Sadly not on a bike but that would be a massive adventure I'm sure.
So, back in January with a couple we met at ante natal classes 22 years ago we made our plans for the 2014 yearly weekend away .... and decided somewhere "not hot" just for a change ...... ( we got that wrong ! ) St Petersburg Russia was picked for no good reason and so it was to be.
Lots of "Googling" and hours on the pooter we booked our flights and hotel. To get into Russia of course you need a VISA ... fill out the forms take them up to London what could be easier ? They were all passed and sent off after the 3rd attempt .. pedantic or what ? Forms that say " if unknown leave blank " .. left blank ... " Niet " she said to me at the desk " You must fill that in with the word none " .. but it says leave blank ! " Niet " !! ... and so it went on, but I have to say if the British Border Agency were that thorough .....
So .. Visas in hand (and paid for at £92 a go) we were ready ........ :yes:
St P was founded, if that is the right word, in around 1703 by, strangely enough Peter The Great who built a massive fort on the river front and saw it as Russias' exit to the West. Trade followed and it all went swimmingly. It's a massive river, the Nerva (?) and made up of 7 different islands all linked with bridges etc ... !,400 Sq KM with 5 million population it's quite busy. 3 hrs from Heathrow T5 and we arrived late Thursday .. 3 hrs ahead in time we made our way into town ...
Pretty chilly at 6pm but the sun shining still ....
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps8ffabd3c.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps8ffabd3c.jpg.html) The soft focus picture is in fact a dodgy Iphone camera lens .. soon to be replaced by a Samsung S5 ...
There are many places to visit depending on what you want to see but most will involve Church/Cathederal/Museum ....
The main place of course is The Winter Palace which houses The Hermitage Museum .. the largest single museum in the world it would take 3 possibly 4 days to do it justice .. I love that sort of thing but to keep the peace we did a fraction of it in 3 hrs ! Trying to keep our Russian Roubles to pay for bits and pieces like beer coffee and cakes we tried to pay the entry fee with plastic .. A passport was required as you were paying to get into a "Government" building said the old bat behind the screen .. " sorry don't have it with me " ... didnt even look up .. just tossed the credit card back and said "No passport, no welcome " .. out came the roubles !! 10/10 then for customer service !!!!
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps54c9bbbc.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps54c9bbbc.jpg.html) This is just a small bit of the front outside The Winter palace and behind this is the Square .. I imagine built and used for Military parades etc ... impressive !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps0cd9845d.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps0cd9845d.jpg.html) Inside The Hermitage ....
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps83339b31.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps83339b31.jpg.html)
And back outside ...........
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps837cb0a1.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps837cb0a1.jpg.html)
It was all very clean and tidy, no street rubbish of any kind but perhaps that is the Russian way and also to impress the tourists ... We walked some decent miles each day going to see about half of the many churches etc .. all of which were impressive with their gold decoration and colours ... beautifully maintained and so you could see why religion is such a big part of many lives. Here are a couple of such places and of course I havn't written down which is which but you'll get the idea !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps93775bd3.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps93775bd3.jpg.html) The Cathederal of The Spilled Blood .... sounds like someone came to a nasty end.
On the way around the back streets there were a few decent motors about ... Louise found this and wondered if she could have it instead of the Fiat 500 that's on order ! Bless her " I like the colour ! "(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps3dd54d33.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps3dd54d33.jpg.html) ......
So ... The Hotel ? 5* in Russia is not The Savoy but still very nice indeed. Bucks Fizz for breakfast with an enormous choice of hot food cold food cereal etc ... but potatoes, broccoli and other veg for brekky ? Yep .. they loved it and it was all gone :eek: :eek: I stuck to the scrambled eggs ! After a long day out and about it was down to the Hotel Spa for a chill out ....
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps42b0e82a.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps42b0e82a.jpg.html) Upstairs in reception .........
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps1e9d1491.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo_zps1e9d1491.jpg.html) So the weather was warming up .. I had hoped and expected to buy one of those Russky fur hats but no need .. cold to start with but on the Saturday we risked it and went out with out coats ... just about ok but on the Sunday it was roasting .. so much so I had to improvise to stop my swa heed getting burned !(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3_zpsf8d07ab0.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3_zpsf8d07ab0.jpg.html)
Finishing off with a few random pictures just to show you the sheer scale of this place so one can imagine the vastness of Russia as a whole. Some go onto to take internal flights down to Moscow but we didn't havn't the time and the Hotel concierge didnt really rate it !
We had a great time and loved the experience of going somewhere completely new. On a bike ? Love to but to get the visa sorted and have the funds AND the time to do just a fraction of it would probably not be achievable for most of us ... Steve S .. have you done any of that in Russia ?
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo2_zps845d552d.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo2_zps845d552d.jpg.html) Fantastic colours and building work.
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps3e781f7f.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo1_zps3e781f7f.jpg.html) This is The Commandants House within the original Fort .. he would come out every week to condemn local criminals to death who were then carted off to the waiting boats, taken across the river and duly dispatched !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo4_zpsb3c3b7ce.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo4_zpsb3c3b7ce.jpg.html) Das Boot !
(http://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n531/NigelCooper/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3_zpsf2a3104e.jpg) (http://s1138.photobucket.com/user/NigelCooper/media/Mobile%20Uploads/photo3_zpsf2a3104e.jpg.html) So there you have it .... a quick trip to St Petersburg.
Great write up Rusty and some lovely pictures...
When I went to Russia in 2012 I used this company for my visa http://ru.vfsglobal.co.uk/
I didn't have to go to London and it was very easy to do.. :yes:
Nice write-up Rusty.
Russia is on my ride-to list but unfortunately it's on Lyn's I'll only ride there if there are more two of us list. Still, I suppose that's better than her Nope! list (Africa, Albania, India, some Middle East countries).
Kevin
Quote from: Kevin on May 01, 2014, 02:28:56 PM
Nice write-up Rusty.
Russia is on my ride-to list but unfortunately it's on Lyn's I'll only ride there if there are more two of us list. Still, I suppose that's better than her Nope! list (Africa, Albania, India, some Middle East countries).
Kevin
Nice to see she is keeping you in your place.. Good for her... :mfr_lol:
Excellent write up as expected Nigel. Not a country which appeals to me due to their harsh way of life, I like it cushy, but I admit it does look impressive.
Speaking about riding to Russia, a chap from work did do it a few years ago in a large group as they were doing some charity work for an organisation called Love Russia. He had the time of his life on his Yamaha TDM900.
That photo with the newspaper on your head, what you wearing your jam jams for? :popcorn:
Cheeky ... but I like it ! :clap:
Great report !
Gives me good memories :punk: