Travel to Russia

Preobrazhenskii Sobor (Cathedral of the Transfiguration)

The brightly-lit and bright yellow Cathedral of the Transfiguration was built by decree of empress Elizabeth on the same location where the Preobrazhenskii (Transfiguration) Regiment's Grenadier Company Palace had been. Built between 1743 and 1754. In 1825, the building burned down and was rebuilt between 1827-29, using the original walls, under the guidance of architect V.P. Stasov in classical style. It is dedicated to the military victory in the Turkish campaign of 1828-29. The cathedral is surrounded by a fence made from captured Turkish guns.

Prachechnyi Most

This cathedral's monumental belfry, with its spire topped by an angel bearing a cross, is one of St. Petersburg's most distinctive landmarks. It stands at a height of 122.5 meters. The first wooden church in the Peter and Paul Fortress was built in 1703. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid in June of 1712 and the cathedral was completed in 1732 and inaugurated on June 29, 1733. There is also beautiful iconostasis, showcasing the finest traditions of Russian woodcarving. It worth a few minutes of your attention, not to spend an entire afternoon though so it would be best if you have other things to do planned.

Borscht

Borscht is a vegetable soup, a traditional dish of Russia, usually including beet roots, which give it a strong red color. However other non-beet varieties exist, such as the tomato paste-based orange borscht and the sorrel-based green borscht. There are two main variants of borscht, referred to as hot and cold, both based on beets, but are otherwise prepared and served differently.

Alexandrovskii Gardens

The Alexandrovskii Gardens were developed between 1820 and 1823 and run along the west wall of the Kremlin. The gardens occupy an area of about 10 hectares. In his attempt to make the gardens as distinctive as possible Bove combined an orderly plan with the free arrangement of trees plus elements of romantic-style gardens. The gardens are bordered by decorative iron railings. Muscovites and foreign tourists often come to the gardens to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.Admission will not cost you a thing and it's quiet peacefull. I garantee you will enjoy it, that's of course if you like green spaces.

Isaakievskii Sobor (St. Isaac's Cathedral)

The panoramic view this place can offer you of the city is astounding. The interior of the church is also very classy and elegant without being too Byzantine and over the top like a lot of the other Russian Cathedrals. The stained glass windows are beautiful. Conveniently located in the center of town, it is also an ideal tourist site for those with mobility problems, although they won't be able to enjoy the catwalk.

Novosibirsk opera and ballet

Novosibirsk opera and ballet theater is probably the most important theater of Novosibirsk and Siberia, and is larger than the Bolshoi Theater. It is located at the very center of the Novosibirsk city, at the Lenin square and it is the symbol of the city, since 2005 is the most technically advanced in Russia with a computerized stage equipment.

Ulan Ude

Ulan Ude is the capital of Buryatia, founded in 1666, located on trade routes between Russia, China and Mongolia. It is a very cold town, buy you should be used to the cold by now if you traveling through Russia! You might want to check out the historical merchant's mansions along the banks of the Uda River, the out-door Ethnographic Museum, and I highly recommend an opera or ballet performance at the Buryat Opera and Ballet Theater.

Krasnoyarsk

Krasnoyarsk is a city in Eastern Siberia, and is a very old beautiful city, established by Russian Cossacks in 1628. Don´t miss the Stolby Forest Reserve, very famous among climbers all over the world for its 181 square mile area full of giant granite rocks formations up to 100 meters high, some of them with very extraordinary shapes.

Letniy Sad

The most amazing thing about the Letniy Sad are the beautiful statues. It is great in the summer time, when the swans are in the lake, and it is quite great to eat ice cream, as someone said it in the earlier review. However, the history goes beyond ice-cream. You have to be able to feel the atmosphere, and realize that you are walking in the footsteps of such great people as Pushkin, Tchakovsky, and the carzs. Or maybe remember the WWII, when Letniy Sad saved lives, by being the only place where people could grow vegetables, during the 900 days of hunger. It is more than a pice of history and great architecture. It is the heart of St. Petersburg. This amazing city has its own soul, that you can feel through its buildings. I strongly suggest that every one go to St. Petersburg. You'll never forget the unbaelivalbe journey, that will capure your soul.

Novodevichy Cemetery

The Novodevichy Cemetery is probably he most famous cemetery in Moscow, located next to the Novodevichy Convent. This cemetery was inaugurated in 1898, and is the eternal resting place of some very notable Russians, like Anton Chekhov and Nikita Khrushchev, who's grave was designed by the same sculptor he denounced for promoting "degenerate art", Ernst Neizvestny.