PHOTO STORY
Moscow & Saint Petersberg
PHOTO STORY
Moscow & Saint Petersberg
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Moscow & Saint Petersberg
A good friend texted on a regular Monday work week and asked, "Hey you wanna go to the World Cup final?"
A good friend texted on a regular Monday work week and asked, "Hey you wanna go to the World Cup final?"
And my first trip to the Russian Federation was checked off in spectacular fashion with
2-weeks in the iconic Russian capital Moscow and the beautiful Saint Petersberg.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, much of Moscow was draped in football-themed decorations and mini-events. Prices for accommodations were sky high, with tent spaces on rooftops going for 300EUR a night. We managed to book our stay in a Russian Khrushchyovka Apartment (think low-cost, government subsidised apartment blocks from the Soviet Union era). Located in a quiet residential neighbourhood, and our week in a "Khrushchev slum" was what grounded my Moscovian experience and connected me to the local life, we shopped at local stores, people watched from our balcony and even got ourselves acquainted with Alexei from the next block and spent 2 hours in his apartment listening to Russian love songs and this was his favourite.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup, much of Moscow was draped in football-themed decorations and mini-events. Prices for accommodations were sky high, with tent spaces on rooftops going for 300EUR a night. We managed to book our stay in a Russian Khrushchyovka Apartment (think low-cost, government subsidised apartment blocks from the Soviet Union era). Located in a quiet residential neighbourhood, and our week in a "Khrushchev slum" was what grounded my Moscovian experience and connected me to the local life, we shopped at local stores, people watched from our balcony and even got ourselves acquainted with Alexei from the next block and spent 2 hours in his apartment listening to Russian love songs and this was his favourite.
BONUS We had an encounter with a busload of Russian National Guards who had found our lost and intoxicated American friend, despite the total language barrier it ended with laughs, hugs and a legendary experience we couldn't have made up, thankfully we have a video of it too.
Saint Petersberg was a completely different vibe, a drastic contrast to the dominating Stalinist architecture in Moscow. The former capital today is a historical, architectural and cultural mecca – the city is connected by multiple waterways and is also nicknamed "Venice of the North". It was the friendlier city between the two in terms of going about on foot as well as the locals (Moscow perhaps had a tourist fatigue from World Cup)
Saint Petersberg was a completely different vibe, a drastic contrast to the dominating Stalinist architecture in Moscow. The former capital today is a historical, architectural and cultural mecca – the city is connected by multiple waterways and is also nicknamed "Venice of the North". It was the friendlier city between the two in terms of going about on foot as well as the locals (Moscow perhaps had a tourist fatigue from World Cup)
The sight of Winter Palace is nothing short of magnificent, we first spotted the unmistakable green and white exterior on a water taxi, the former royal residence today is home to the Hermitage Museum (Virtual Tour). The museum is an absolute treat both in its vast collection of treasures as well as the jaw-dropping opulence of the building and its interiors
The sight of Winter Palace is nothing short of magnificent, we first spotted the unmistakable green and white exterior on a water taxi, the former royal residence today is home to the Hermitage Museum (Virtual Tour). The museum is an absolute treat both in its vast collection of treasures as well as the jaw-dropping opulence of the building and its interiors
You might come across cats wandering the halls of the vast museum, bred within the palace these cats are descendants of cats of the court during the reign of Catherine the Great over 200 years ago. Today these cats are still treated like "royalty", they have veterinarians on call as well as a dedicated press secretary. Check out Richard Quest's light-hearted presentation CNN on these "Guardians of the Galleries"
You might come across cats wandering the halls of the vast museum, bred within the palace these cats are descendants of cats of the court during the reign of Catherine the Great over 200 years ago. Today these cats are still treated like "royalty", they have veterinarians on call as well as a dedicated press secretary. Check out Richard Quest's light-hearted presentation CNN on these "Guardians of the Galleries"
The Hermitage Museum is tied with The British Museum as my favourite museums of all time.
The Hermitage Museum is tied with The British Museum as my favourite museums of all time.
Russia remains an intriguing and mysterious destination. The FIFA World Cup glitz was merely a temporary facade and there is certainly so much more to see, to experience and to feel.
This will definitely not be the last time I visit Russia, next time without the veil of FIFA so I can properly experience the vast country.
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