Russia Journals
In the Air on Aeroflot
Welcome to Russia
Saint Petersburg
From Moscow, With Love
Yekaterinaburg
Feeling at Home in Siberia
Last Stop in Russia: Irkutsk
In the Air on Aeroflot
Welcome to Russia
Saint Petersburg
From Moscow, With Love
Yekaterinaburg
Feeling at Home in Siberia
Last Stop in Russia: Irkutsk
Trans-Siberian
Railroad Journals
Railroad Journals
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Photo Albums
Links relating to
my trip
my trip
Imaginative Traveller -
The company I booked my
Trans-Siberian trip
through.
Hotel Saint Petersburg -
Our hotel in Saint Petersburg.
Hotel Gamma Delta - Our
hotel in Moscow.
Hotel Sverdlovsk - Our hotel
in Yekaterinaburg.
Hotel Angara - Our hotel in
Irkutsk.
CCCP - Restaurant we ate at in
Yekaterinaburg where I had
my blini and smoked salmon
meal.
The company I booked my
Trans-Siberian trip
through.
Hotel Saint Petersburg -
Our hotel in Saint Petersburg.
Hotel Gamma Delta - Our
hotel in Moscow.
Hotel Sverdlovsk - Our hotel
in Yekaterinaburg.
Hotel Angara - Our hotel in
Irkutsk.
CCCP - Restaurant we ate at in
Yekaterinaburg where I had
my blini and smoked salmon
meal.
My Russian Experience... Highs: The armoury building in the Kremlin (where we saw the outfits, carriages, thrones, crowns, Fabberge eggs, etc.); the Hermitage; the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (the majority was impressionist art). Lows: How expensive it is out here; seeing how hard off the older people are without communism; a close-up look at St. Basil's; regretting not buying a 15-piece matryoshka doll in Moscow. Best Moment: This is really hard to answer. I loved venturing around Moscow. But I also loved the comfort and warmth of our homestay in Listvyanka. And also the days and nights that seemed to go way too quickly on the train. Saddest Moment: There is a place outside of Red Square where people throw a coin (probably for good luck). We saw several older women standing there literally pushing each other to get the coins. That is how badly they need the money. Smells: Smoked fish. Sounds: Church bells ringing at the monastery (absolutely beautiful); the singing of priests inside the church; cows 'moo'ing; the absence of cars honking (yes, I can now hear the absence of this). Sights: Hermitage; St. Basil's Cathedral; Kremlin; Lenin's body in the mausoleum; Stalin's tomb; Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts; older women begging for money. Tastes: Smoked fish; blinis with salmon; Red October chocolate; blintz-like things; pieroshkies; vodka; Baltika beer. Purchases: Matryoshka dolls. Street Food: Ice cream; potatoes; savory pastries; apples; popcorn. Fun Food Finds: Spreadable dark chocolate (same style as 'Laughing Cow' cheese); 'Twix-els' in chocolate-orange flavor (instead of caramel); my much-adored Fazer chocolate mints; 'CCCP' ice cream bars. Things You Can Buy on a Train Platform: blinis; different kinds of pastries; roasted chickens; boiled potatoes; pieroshkies; apples; newspapers; chocolate; cigarettes; beer; chandeliers; stuffed eagles; fur hats; stuffed squirrels on sticks. Surprising Things: How expensive it is out here; the amount of wealth out here (referring to Moscow); the cleanliness; how manageable it is to get around; how easy it is to read Russian. Western Companies Out Here: MacDonald's; Sbarro; Carl's Jr.; Baskin Robbins; just about every designer store; Hard Rock Cafe. Other General Info... Visa needed? Yes. Don't even get me started on what it took to get this. Of course it would have been quite simple to get it in San Francisco. But that wasn't an option (since I was leaving five months before coming here and you can only obtain it up to three months in advance). After three trips to Russian consulates and embassies, I finally emerged successful in New Delhi, India. Type of currency? Russian Rubles. Approximately 27 equal $1 US. Wallet Friendly? No. Moscow was one of the most expensive cities I have been to (next to Reykjavik, Iceland and London). Dining out is expensive! I ended up eating in food courts and buying groceries and self-catering. Things Russia Is Known For: Caviar; former Communism; ballet; vodka; matryoshka dolls; cold War; Trans-Siberian railroad. Main Souvenir Items to Buy Here: Matryoshka dolls; fur hats; black, gold and red lacquer bowls; things with Soviet emblems on them. Religion: Russian Orthodox. Costs: $700 (this includes the $300 local payment for my tour) |
Russia...
September 13-28, 2006
Lots of Russian doll souvenirs.
Outside of Red Square.
Moscow at sunset.
