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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:05 am |
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Well, it's finals month here in college and I'm looking forward to the months ahead.
I've already purchased a ticket for a direct flight from Seattle to Copenhagen this July.
From Copenhagen's airport, I'm flying to Helsinki. Spending 3-4 days biking and walking around the beautiful city of Helsinki. The hostel I'm staying at in Helsinki loans out free bikes for all of its customers.
Then hopping on an eastward-bound train which stops at the Finnish-Russian border, and then proceeds for another few hours to St. Petersburg where I'll be staying with family friends for a few weeks and enjoying the museums, palaces, nightlife, culture architecture and sights that Petersburg and its surrounding towns have to offer.
Finally I've managed to succinctly plan out a trip well ahead of time.
And I'll know for certain that my full-time shift at QFC during the months of June and May shall not be in vain. 
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:08 am by Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:10 am |
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Just to give a visual perspective of the distances and cities of the Region. The train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg apparently goes northeast and then turns southward after hitting the Russian border:
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:18 am |
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I'm staying there precisely during the time of the "white nights" (belyie nochi), when it gets dark around midnight-1 am in St. Petersburg.
June, though, is the lightest month in northern Russia when it's light enough to read a book outside well into the early morning hours.
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 02:18 am by Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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sct
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 07:54 am |
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Welcome to china ,we will offer you the best service http://www.
Edit: s/s= self solicitation is not permitted. (or) Ads cost US 5000 per post. plus our legal fees to collect it.
Last edited on Tue Apr 1st, 2008 08:45 am by
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 04:38 pm |
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sct wrote: Welcome to china ,we will offer you the best service http://www.
Edit: s/s= self solicitation is not permitted. (or) Ads cost US 5000 per post. plus our legal fees to collect it.
huh?
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Sail_the_Web
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 06:28 pm |
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| Hey! Sounds interesting enough, that Summer adventure!
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 09:02 pm |
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Some history too.
After a swift battle between Tsar Peter 1st's army and King Gustavus's Swedish troops at the beginning of the 1700's (in which Sweden lost much of its territory to Russia), Tsar Peter designated an open swampland annexed from previously-controlled Swedish territory as the new Capital of his Russian Empire.
St. Petersburg was built by Peter for the purpose of impressing/flattering foreign dignitaries visiting Mother Russia, in an effort to show to the Kingdoms of Western Europe that not only had Russia become powerful acquiring sizable wealth in the process, but that with the Grand Architecture of St. Petersburg, the Empire was also an edifice of refined etiquette, civilization and culture- not some barbaric wasteland of uneducated Slavs.
To this day, the citizens of St. Petersburg are considered to be the most "cultured" and especially polite of all Russians.
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Sail_the_Web
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Posted: Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 12:11 pm |
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| Bump
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
Member
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:02 am |
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These are the Summer Residences of former Russian Nobles, about 20-30 miles outside of St. Petersburg Proper:
Including Tsaritsa Catherine's summer estates:
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
Member
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:16 am |
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Those were just the Suburbs.
This, however, is the central core of the city....
The Religiously-inspired Architecture is magnificent in its neo-Orthodox, Slavic style. Combined with Baroque tapestry and Classical Cupolas and Columns.
An areal view of the Cathedral of St. Peter on the Neva River in central St. Petersburg:
The Trinity Cathedral:
St. Isaac's Cathedral:
St. Nicholas's Naval Cathedral:
The Cathedral on Split Blood (Not to be Confused with Moscow's famous Blazhenov basillica)
Smolniy Cathedral:
The Church of "Our Lady of Kazan":
The Old Choral Synagogue:
St. Petersburg looks more beautiful than Paris.
s13:Edited upon topic author Request
Last edited on Sat Apr 5th, 2008 09:53 am by s13
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:31 am |
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St. Petersburg was quite literally built on skulls and bones...
In order to build the spectacular city and its surrounding Suburbs, the Tsar Peter I and the later Catherine had to displace thousands of peasants/serfs, forcing hundreds of thousands of unskilled labourers to toil and die in the process of constructing a Capital City in what was naturally a Malarial Swamp amid impenetrable forestlands...
Of course this was 250 years ago, so it's all good now..
St. Petersburg also endured the Blockade of WW2, in which 500,000 of its citizens starved to death. Remarkably, the architecture retained its glory even after the Glorious War.
Last edited on Fri Apr 4th, 2008 06:31 am by Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Sail
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Posted: Fri Apr 4th, 2008 08:18 am |
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| Thanx for Pix!
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 07:11 am |
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| I'm now working 55 hrs/week (7 days a week) at two jobs so that by the time I leave for my trip (July 15th), my parents won't have to pay a dime for my travel costs... I feel good about paying and earning for my own vacation.
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
Member
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 07:22 am |
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Also, I'm lucky that a distant old aunt will provide me with free lodging in her downtown flat during my stay in St. Petersburg. Otherwise, the hotel bill after a month over there would simply be astronomical in such a luxurious-looking city! 
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BiologyPhD
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Posted: Wed May 21st, 2008 09:08 am |
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You are so lucky! I would love to see Russia some day! Especially the Hermitage! And a concert/ballet/opera at the Bolshoi.
but I am loving Kurdistan right now!
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roskilde rules
Member
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Posted: Fri May 23rd, 2008 11:53 pm |
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that sounds nice.... especially when you are able to live with the local population/your aunt (i have tried that in Norway and England) it always gives the greatest experience. it is the perfect way to experience another culture.
sad that you wont stay for a while in Copenhagen... i would have invited you for Smørrebrød.
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
Member
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Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 06:32 am |
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roskilde rules wrote: that sounds nice.... especially when you are able to live with the local population/your aunt (i have tried that in Norway and England) it always gives the greatest experience. it is the perfect way to experience another culture.
True, but I'm not "new" to Russian culture... I was brought up in Russian language (am completely fluent in Russian) and Russian culture, and am equally exposed and influenced by the Russian and American experience, although I identify more with American culture than Russian.
The short time I spend in Finnland, however, will in fact be a new cultural experience. 
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator
Member
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Posted: Sat May 24th, 2008 06:34 am |
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| I'm guessing Smorrebrod is some kind of sweat bread roasted/smored over an open fire?
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BiologyPhD
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Posted: Mon May 26th, 2008 02:37 pm |
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Pseudo-Soviet Dictator a écrit: roskilde rules wrote: that sounds nice.... especially when you are able to live with the local population/your aunt (i have tried that in Norway and England) it always gives the greatest experience. it is the perfect way to experience another culture.
True, but I'm not "new" to Russian culture... I was brought up in Russian language (am completely fluent in Russian) and Russian culture, and am equally exposed and influenced by the Russian and American experience, although I identify more with American culture than Russian.
The short time I spend in Finnland, however, will in fact be a new cultural experience.
Wow! I'm considering becoming a Russian citizen eventually. TRH in Virtual Gov says I need to live there for 5 years continually.
But I would love to learn Russian (tried unsuccessfully when in the 3rd grade - but hey! I was only 10 yrs old and had only a LP record to help!).
Love the pics. That church reminds me of the Pantheon in Rome.
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Strey55
Member
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Posted: Tue May 27th, 2008 09:21 am |
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When you are in Berlin try "Currywurst". You get it at the most corners but be aware of the "Döner" it could damage your health.
Have fun on your trip!!!
P.S. A pretty expensive journey when i see the dollar/Euro exchange. Perhaps wait a year till the dollar healthens?
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