It was on a warm summer afternoon I boarded that train in Saint Petersburg, starting on my way east, from Europe towards Asia. It was a long trip through the endless Russian plains. In the mostly occupied by adolescent soldiers third-class carriage, there wasn't much opportunity for talking. Leave aside some short conversations with an old lady heading to her hometown in … [Read more...]
A Trip to Priozersk and Lake Ladoga
Summer came to Russia, I came too. It was just a few months ago, during the winter, when I set foot in this country for the first time, but now, in comparison, I felt like I was visiting a new country. The dominant cold greyness I’d experienced during my previous visit was now replaced by blue skies, green trees, and warm weather. Ideal times to explore the Russian countryside. … [Read more...]
Athens to Naflpio and Epidaurus Day Trip
The other day I was contacted by an Israeli photographer and was asked whether I could plan and guide him on a day trip outside of Athens in hunt for some good shots. After pondering all the many different options this beautiful country has to offer, we decided to head to the city of Nafplio and Argolis prefecture. If there was any area in this country that could boast of being … [Read more...]
Hiking Mount Penteli near Athens
Having been lately situated in Russia, there were two things I missed: warm, sunny weather and mountains. Coming back to Greece right on time for the spring's advent, it was the exact right time to hit a mountain. At about noontime of this beautiful, mild spring day, My French friend Olivier and I were driving out of Athens' center bound to conquer the top of Mount … [Read more...]
What to see in Moscow in 2 days
Moscow, home to well over 10 million people, is the largest city in Europe. The city is so vast that one would always have the potential to discover new things in it, even after having lived there for an entire lifetime. I recently happened to be there on a brief, two-day visit. The given time was way too limited to explore the city as much as I'd have liked to. Choosing … [Read more...]
A trip to Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg in winter
On a chilly March afternoon, we set off from the southern outskirts of Saint Petersburg bound for a short trip to Peterhof Palace. This palatial complex is located on the south coast of the Gulf of Finland, some 30 km west of Saint Petersburg. Nothing but empty land was to be found there until, in the year 1705, Peter the Great of Russia decided to build there a summer palace … [Read more...]
A Visit to Catherine Park in Tsarkoye Selo (Pushkin)
Early afternoon of a freezing cold day of March, somewhere in the southern outskirts of Saint Petersburg, we were boarding a Soviet-style bus bound for the town of Pushkin, located some 24 km to the south of the city. It was first founded as an imperial residence called Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar Village), in the year 1710, soon after the city of Saint Petersburg, at the location … [Read more...]
Ice Swimming in Neva River, Saint Petersburg
Having grown up by the seaside, I’ve learned to always enjoy a good swim, and I have developed a second-nature kind of liking for water. Furthermore - despite that seaside of my childhood being of the sunny, warm kind - I've come to become aware of the exhilarating effect cold has on one's mood and to believe in the benefits swimming in cold water arguably gives to one's … [Read more...]
A Trip to Kronstadt on Kotlin Island in the Gulf of Finland
Some 30 km off the city of Saint Petersburg, on Kotlin island in the Gulf of Finland, there lies Kronstadt. There is the main port of Saint Petersburg and the traditional seat of the Russian Admiralty and the Russian Baltic Fleet's base. The island was captured by Great Peter's forces from the Swedes during the Great Northern War, in the year 1703. The island then served as the … [Read more...]
What to see in Saint Petersburg in one day
It was a freezing cold March morning in the erstwhile capital of Imperial Russia, now the country's second-largest city: Saint Petersburg. The thermometer showed -20 degrees Celsius, though the sky was perfectly clear and a fierce sun was bathing the glorified city in profuse sunshine. I just had arrived in the city the previous day. Now it was the right time to head downtown … [Read more...]
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