“We’re Not In St. Pete Anymore, Toto!” We’re In Russia!

August 26, 2016 by admin

During these exciting days of traveling alone through Russia, staying in hostels and meeting so many new people, I’ll bet that I’m recalling my roots a whole lot more than any of you! “Where are you from?” is the Hosteler’s stock in conversation trade.

I always report “Ya Americanka! …. from the U.S.A….Florida…..Clearwater!” Well, my Florida hometown is just a few miles from St. Pete (St. Petersburg), Florida, famous for being a beach community and a favorite senior citizen’s retirement center. It looks nothing like this Russian Saint Petersburg, artistically-famous and glittering city, home of the Czars. This European countryside is so very green because it rains every-other day.

And yes, they have the wonderful red, double-decker city sightseeing buses, here too, just like they have in London! My home here is beautiful Soul Kitchen Hostel. Very comfortable and welcoming. Full of new friends to share sightseeing with or to come home to after a hard day of glamour.

The Soul Kitchen Hostel’s living room.
My hostel is just around the corner and across the canal from St Isaac’s Cathedral
I’m in The Venice of Russia!
Inside of Saint Isaac’s Cathedral.
Two hostel friends and I took the canal boat to Peterhof, a splendid palace surrounded by acres of groomed parklands and grounds, where locals go to picnic and celebrate.
Yes, even horse-drawn carriages!
Our kitchen and dining room at the hostel
It’s easy sleeping in a hostel dormitory, especially when the bunks are curtained to make it dark in there.
This was the first indication that we were approaching the Russian border from Estonia. The sign said RUSSIA in Russian, of course.
Their own double-decker sightseeing buses!
Peterhof is one off Peter, The Great’s palaces.
This is a very “gilty” country….. and I mean that in the best way possible!
And there is The Great Peter, Himself, perpetually riding into the sunset……