We were so very lucky to have Tanya as our guide. She is, in our history of taking private tours, one of the best guides we’ve ever had. She would always go out of her way in making sure we were all satisfied and happy. And her concern for us is always sincere. So our time at Saint Petersburg was a very pleasant and memorable one.
On our first night, Tanya took us to Literary Cafe (I hope I am right), where Alexander Pushkin would visit!
Piano and a trompe l’oeil “library of books” wall in the back.
We ordered pelminis
I believe this is borsch soup again, baked with a filo pastry top
Super yummy mushrooms!!
And the piece de resistance (the WORST dish hahahaha– doesn’t it already look it?)
Beef, Petersburg style. Reminded me of something unpleasant hahahaha. *ok I am going no further here. Let your imagination take you to that not too pleasant place hahaha. You’re on your own!!!*
The Pelminis and the mushroom dish were both great though! So we were still very happy with our dinner! Plus it was our chance to get to know Tanya (and her, us).
After a very restful sleep ( I love the beds at Grand Hotel Europe!), we had breakfast here:
Talk about a Breakfast “Hall”! It was a big hall!! Reminded me of a church actually. DM still says it looks like the grand ballroom of an imperial palace. I maintain that it looks like a church. A beautiful one– with that stained glass wall all the way in front.
Breakfast over, we began our tour. Our car drove across Saint Petersburg’s frozen Neva River– that’s the Winter Palace right there (in bluish green).
An old warship anchored on the frozen banks of the river.
Tanya, our very lovely tour guide, was not too pleased my siblings and I walked on the frozen river 😉 The ice was actually already melting, so it was no longer safe to walk on them.
*What can I say, I can be very stubborn :D*
We went to Peter and Paul Fortress, before we headed to Saint Isaac’s Cathedral.
The interior of the cathedral was just impressive. This was the dome
A closer look at the dome
Do you see the white dove of peace? 🙂
The imposing pillars were made of malachite and lapis lazuli.
For a stone and mineral enthusiast like my DSIL, this was serious eye candy 🙂
It was really beautiful. You know what they have told me about Russia before? It’s a must- see. It’s beautiful. They’re right. To see, is indeed to believe!
x
Mrs. T
