Typically, visitors to Russia need a visa. But, by the graces of some new legislative change, tourists are allowed to enter St. Petersburg visa-free for 72 hours if they arrive by sea. So, we took a cruise to the Northern Capital aboard a ship that dated from the era when the city was still called Leningrad. There was a casino on board which sat empty and a few restaurants with 20 euro+ entrées. We ate in the canteen the first night and I got гречка с грибами, buckwheat with mushrooms, a Russian student staple (for Shelly anyway).
As I’ve said before, I am a Moscow man. But, to be back in Russia was tremendously joyous. Finally my family could see my second country! Unsurprisingly, they didn’t share in my gusto: “this is the place you like so much?”
They loved the historical landmarks and pretty buildings even as I was getting a little bored seeing it all again.
It had been a long two weeks being out of Russia especially since I wasn’t able to speak much Russian in France. St. Petersburg gave me the opportunity to show off my language skills asking residents where Nevsky Prospect is, or telling shopkeepers that my dad wanted to buy batteries (almost the same word in English, but the guy couldn’t understand the accent).
I enjoyed St. Petersburg much more this time around because the weather wasn’t dismal and I managed to get around in shorts. We had a lively Russian guide named Юля, Yulia, who took us around the big sites- St. Isaacs Cathedral, Church on the Spilt Blood, The Hermitage, Peterhof, Catherine’s Palace, Peter and Paul Fortress, etc. She threw in a few Soviet points of interest to please me. I did see some new things actually and I’m glad that I had another chance to go back to Petersburg because two days wasn’t enough the first time.
Also, we are in the white nights in this part of the world. That means it doesn’t get dark. Quite literally, the sun never sets and the hours past midnight are twilit until the sun rises again. This makes for good partying but poor sleep schedules.
Best Local Beer: Baltika 7
Best Beer: Kozel Cerny (actually a Czech beer, but it’s what we drank in Moscow)
