Back to being screwed.....

Just tried to pick up my passport expecting a new visa with revised entry and exit dates but there was a problem. Russians like to make it difficult for Americans to get visas, I think because we make it difficult for Russians to visit the US. So because I'm American, they would not change my visa and to visit Russia longer I would have to do the entire visa application process (6 days) and pay the full amount (75€) again. I said no thanks to that option. So I guess I'll be giving Russia a brief fly by and its going from being a major stop on my itenerary to being a minor one -- against my desires!! If I can get my Chinese visa tomorrow (1 August), paying the extra $50 for fast processing, I can hopefully take the train to St. Petersburg on Wednesday (2 August). Then I will have a brief 14 days to see the largest country on the planet..... My Russian visa is only valid until 15 August so I have to make sure I'm in Mongolia by then. This is really, really frustrating. I was planning to spend 4 days each in St. Petersburg and Moscow and then make a couple stops along the way, but not now.... This really sucks and I'm really pissed!!!!