Compared to the luxurious houses near the British Embassy, Bichulin's rented place in St. Petersburg seemed quite modest.
It was an old two-story building with walls painted in a gray-white lime wash. The mottled walls and somewhat outdated window frames revealed the house's age. The snow piled on the window sills during winter and the icicles hanging from the eaves made me feel frozen just looking at it.
However, the location of this house was quite good, situated on Pea Street which ran through the center of Peterburg City.
Although Pea Street had no notable noble residences, merchant houses, or luxury boutiques, it was filled with small shops and budget hotels, making it a great place for ordinary citizens to live.
Because it was close to the station and Winter Palace Square, and life was convenient here, small middle-to-low-level civil servants like Bichulin liked to rent houses in this area.
