Venice Of The North

Venice of the North

Today we get to experience St. Petersburg’s canals.  Alexander the Great founded this city as his own and had a vision to turn it into the Venice of the North, criss-crossing the city with canals to provide a means of transport as well as beauty.… Read the rest

A Taste Of St. Petersburg

A taste of old Russia at Eliseyev Emporium

After a day of exploring Peterhof and the Catherine Palace at Pushkin, I’m ready to delve into St. Petersburg proper.  After dropping the rest of the tour group back at the port, mum and I are taken to the metro at Primorskaya where we are handed over to another guide for the evening. … Read the rest

Catherine Palace

Catherine Palace

As the second wife of Peter the Great, Catherine I, Empress of Russia, came to the throne by chance.  She was orphaned at an early aged and spent her youth as a maid. Nevertheless, they met soon after Peter moved the capital to St.… Read the rest

Peterhof

The magnificent fountains and facade of Peterhof

Our destination is Peterhof.  After a drive through the city, however, the metro is our first introduction to St.  Petersburg and even from the very beginning it is unlike any other metro station.  Narvskaya metro is bustling with commuters and we push our tokens into the machine to pass through the gates and are funneled onto a long escalator, perhaps the longest I have ever seen.… Read the rest

At Sea

The water slides

“Forgive me for saying so, but you’re too young for cruising” my work colleague quips a few weeks before our departure.  On the contrary, I rather wish we had discovered this way of travel long before now.

Embarking

We’re on our first day at sea travelling from Warnemünde, Germany to Tallinn, Estonia where we will dock tomorrow morning. … Read the rest

Marienkirche

Marienkirche

Today we are visiting Marienkirche (St Mary’s Church), located in Rostock, a city in northern Germany. After a walk through the town square we come across this charming church and enter into the dazzling interior, the whitewashed wall reflecting the light of the bright day outside.… Read the rest

Warnemünde & Rostock

On the canal, Warnemünde

I wake up in Warnemünde, our first port of call, and I can’t wait to get out and explore.  After dressing, breakfast and other morning tasks, we walk from the port into town and follow the pretty canal lined with boats floating prettily and little pension (B&B) along the banks.… Read the rest

Khachapuri, Khinkhali and Calories

Fruit & cognac, anytime

Georgia is not a good place to be counting calories. Luckily as I begin my long weekend getaway in Tbilisi, I have no such illusions of a diet.  As I walk down the streets of the old town on my first night here, the restaurants and cafes are full.… Read the rest

Uplistsikhe & Gori

The 9th Century chapel at Uplistsikhe

Uplistsikhe, literally the ‘lord’s fortress’ is a cave town – an ancient city built into the rocks, just outside of Gori around 90 minutes drive from Tbilisi.  The drive is quiet and I admire the mountain scenery, picking Sergo’s tour guide brain about all the best places to visit and things to see. … Read the rest