A Mexican girl in Russia. – LLL Russian Tour Special 2014
Placebo Anyway in
colaboration with Alexandra Ugalde from Mexico.
Interview by SusanneCk
– Helping hand Diana E.T. Foghin
You already
know her from the LLL Tour Special about Mexico, we are speaking about Alexandra Ugalde.
Placebo old
school fan, having been almost to all mexican concerts and a long list of
emotions she shared with us in this interview.
Our Mexican
soulmate went recently to Russia, to
figure out by herself what Placebo could possibly love so much about this
amazing country.
Placebo Anyway: Was this your first visit to Russia or have you
been there before?
Alexandra Ugalde: This was my 1st visit to Russia.
Placebo Anyway:
Besides
discovering what attracts Placebo so much about Russia, which was your main
reason to go there?
Alexandra Ugalde: Well, the 1st time that I studied
Russian was in 2010, so in that year, to visit Russia was a goal, but now, my
principal reason was to visit some special Russian friends
Placebo Anyway: So you’re learning Russian. Wow. All my
respects!! I heard it’s very difficult?
Alexandra Ugalde: Oh yes, I’ve to admit that it’s difficult for
me (and latins) to pronounce “ы” and sometimes I don’t know when an “o” sounds
like an “a”, but I really love this language.
Placebo Anyway: Good luck with the studies!! Let us speak now about your visit to Russia.
Tell us, which places did you visit?
Alexandra Ugalde: I visit only two cities: Moscow and Saint
Petersburg
Placebo Anyway: Wonderful. Let us start with the arrangements. What do you think is very important if you
want to go to Russia?
Alexandra Ugalde: Well, if you are Mexican like me, you need
passport and visa, but if you are from the rest of Latin-America or other
countries, you don’t need visa, only passport. I chose a flight from Cancun to
Moscow with Transaero Airlines.
I packed my luggage the night before my flight! I was so nervous, the clothes I chose were dresses, skirts, t-shirts, etc, because Moscow is hot in summer, although St. Petersburg climate changes a lot, one day is hot and then it rains.
I think that if you want to go to Russia and you don’t speak any word in Russian, is much better to pay a guided tour, when I was at the airport no one spoke English.
I packed my luggage the night before my flight! I was so nervous, the clothes I chose were dresses, skirts, t-shirts, etc, because Moscow is hot in summer, although St. Petersburg climate changes a lot, one day is hot and then it rains.
I think that if you want to go to Russia and you don’t speak any word in Russian, is much better to pay a guided tour, when I was at the airport no one spoke English.
Placebo Anyway: Which places did you visit?
Alexandra Ugalde: In Moscow:
Kremlin, Red Square, Gorky Park, metro, GUM, Hermitage Garden, and many walks in streets and parks.
In St Petersburg, Peter and Paul Fortress, Cruiser Aurora, Neva River, Winter Palace, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, Nevsky Prospect and more.
In St Petersburg, Peter and Paul Fortress, Cruiser Aurora, Neva River, Winter Palace, Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, Nevsky Prospect and more.
Placebo Anyway: What are your best memories about Moscow? Which
places have you seen and what would you recommend to see and do to everyone who
visit these cities?
Alexandra Ugalde: My best memories are with my friend, every
single moment with him was amazing , and I can’t say only one or a few, my
entire trip was beautiful.
My recommendation is, if you are planning to go, search for tours in advance from home to have tickets to many places, because some places are not open daily and open only for a few hours.
My recommendation is, if you are planning to go, search for tours in advance from home to have tickets to many places, because some places are not open daily and open only for a few hours.
Placebo Anyway: Tell us about St. Petersburg. What was special
for you there? What are the differences between both cities?
Alexandra Ugalde: St. Petersburg’s architecture is older, was the
capital many years ago, I think it looks
more like Holland, is totally different from Moscow, to me both are so
beautiful, Moscow is a circle and is like 3 cities in one, the center is
historical, then is a mix of Perestroika and modern and in the end of the
circle is very modern
Placebo Anyway: Every journey, every holiday ha its surprise.
What was the biggest surprise for you being in Russia?
Alexandra Ugalde: Russians are the best hosts,
when you are at
their house as a friend, they treat you so very well, warm and
beautiful. Russians don’t smile a lot, but if they smiles at you, is because
they like you , they have honest smiles.
Summer nights in Petersburg, sky never darkens, it’s called white nights because sun never sets.
Placebo
Anyway: Russian food!! Very tasty as I heard!! Which typical Russian dishes did
you try?
Summer nights in Petersburg, sky never darkens, it’s called white nights because sun never sets.
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| http://www.1zoom.net/ |
Alexandra Ugalde: I ate шашлык ( shashlik) of lamb, it's like a skewered BBQ, ; окрошка (okroshka) cold sup, has a strong taste, I liked it; самогон (samagon) is
like vodka or even more hard liquor, obviously vodka, and квас (kvas) is fermented drink from bread, I loved
it.
Placebo Anyway: Could you choose your favorite one for us?
Alexandra Ugalde: Probably Shashlik, vodka and over all I love red caviar!!
Placebo Anyway: A bit far from Moscow and St. Petersburg, but
have you been to any Placebo concert?
Alexandra Ugalde: No, I wasn’t.
Placebo Anyway: Oh, I’m sorry, and why didn’t you went finally
to the gigs?
Alexandra
Ugalde: Well… my idea was to stay at least two weeks, but I had a little problem…
I forgot that my Passport expired, so I had to make an appointment to renew it and it took me 1 more month
! and obviously less days of my
vacations…
Placebo Anyway: What a pity! Did you meet any Placebo fans in Russia?
Alexandra Ugalde: No, I didn’t have time, and it’s a shame, I
really wanted to.
Placebo Anyway: What do you think about Placebo's proximity to
the fans and open trade? What do you think is the reason they didn’t do the
same in Southamerica?
Alexandra Ugalde: I'm not sure, but it's fair, Placebo spent time
in Latin America and also included moments before in videos, including other
countries, it's time to coddle more fans.
Placebo Anyway: Have you seen the LLL Russian Tour teaser? Do
you like it? We think it looks great!!!
Alexandra Ugalde: Yes, I love it, seems very intimate, friendly, and makes me dream.
Placebo Anyway: Do you go back to Russia and do you want to see
Placebo there one day or in another country around the world? Which one would
you choose if you could?
Alexandra Ugalde: I wish I could see them
in Russia, in fact, my new dream-goal is to live there, although,
if I'm there, I
could see them in
other countries too.
Placebo Anyway: Thank you again for your collaboration dear
Alexandra. Good luck with everything and
now in Russian: Спасибо
большое,
Люблю
тебя.
Alexandra Ugalde: Спасибо большое, мои милые друзья, it’s an honor to me to collaborate again.
Placebo Anyway in colaboration with Alexandra
Ugalde.
Interview by SusanneCk – Helping hand Diana
E.T. Foghin
