St. Petersburg - A Window to Europe



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What to Eat

Bread is central to the Russian diet. Have kasha (cooked cereal) for breakfast, borhsch (soup) could start your sumptuous lunch and follow it with some fish, and after dinner have some kompot (stewed fruit) or kisel (fruit juice thickened with corn flour). You could have a variety of meals in the city, from authentic Russian food to exotic delicacies, but don’t forget to wash it all down with some vodka.

Where to Stay
Here you will have a wide variety of choices depending on your budget. From the lower end you could opt for Nordhostel or the aptly named Sleep Cheap. If you want better quality of stay Nevsky Grand Hotel, Petro Palace, Alexander house and Hotel Moskva are good options. Grand Hotel Europe and Radisson SAS are on the higher side but luxurious and have great views of the city.

Culture
As the cultural capital of Russia, Saint Petersburg has a lot to offer for cultural aficionados. Saint Petersburg was the birthplace of Russian literature in many ways. It was the setting for Dostoyevsky’s masterpiece Crime and Punishment, and Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. The unmistakable sound of Russian music was perfected by the likes of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev and Rimsky-Korsakov, in this city. Here Petipa, Pavlova, Nijinsky and Ulanova perfected the ballet, considered the most aristocratic dance form, and enthralled audiences. Great architects have made the city streets a wonder to behold. Since the 18th century, they have built palaces of marble, malachite and even gold! Artists have made their presence felt here too. The city’s cultural life has been enhanced by these greats.

Do not miss the circus here with the acrobats and animals. Their antics will leave you spellbound. And as long as you are here, take in your cultural doze of theater, and we don’t mean the screened ones…ballets and plays are better seen here than anywhere else. Language is not a problem since there are subtitles above the scene.

It is important to note that people here are not very tolerant of homosexuals,  so it is advisable to not advertise the fact if that be the case.

Apart from sampling a bit of culture, you could also indulge in one of the most popular aristocratic pastime – balls! The tradition dates back to the time of Peter the Great when the blue bloods put on carnivals and musical performances in their palaces. In the present St Petersburg, you can also experience the magic of the times and get lost in a fairy tale. The news year balls, Temirkanov Ball hosted by Russian conductor Yury Temirkanov, and the luxurious Tsar’s Ball are truly magical. But even more so is the White Nights Ball during the last ten days of June, t he longest days of the year. It is held in Mariinsky Theatre and the ten day extravaganza is also called ‘Stars of the White Night’. Another important ball is the Strauss Ball held in early June as part of ‘Musical Olympus’, a classical music festival.

Here you can truly relive the magic of days gone by.

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