St. Petersburg Private Guide's Blog
Curious stories about Saint Petersburg (Russia),
its history and inhabitants.
its history and inhabitants.
January 15, 2022
Magical memories
It is not easy - to be a blogger! That is why I am a tour guide . I did not write a lot here recently, as I almost drowned in art history and the history of art of the XVI century in particular. But I hope tourism begins slowly to recover, and it brings some magnificent memories, which I decided to share.
In fact, it is a post of boasting. Because I'd love to present you an article in TASTE magazine. It is written by Michelle Coburn, who is today Senior Content Editor at Woolworths TASTE magazine. And who I have to thank for letting me show you this article. Michelle was one of South African journalists who came here on a board of a cruise ship. And I am delighted that I was a tour guide for this group. I am honoured to be mentioned in this article, which was written following the Baltic cruise. (And yes, this is where I do boast, hope you'll forgive me for this!)
I remember the eagerness to see, to learn, lots of questions, lots of laughs and an unprecedented tirelessness. I remember a sprint race we made to take photos of a Russian food market, or plates with chicken Kiev taken out to natural light for the better shot (as I know eventually, that it is wise to take pictures of food in natural light as it gives food better appearance).
I hope I will see my tourists here again. TASTE magazine is about food, isn't it? And I only want to add, that since then my gorgeous city has become the gastronomical capital of Russia. And though Moscow restaurants were given Michelin stars last year, I can assure you that many Muscovites arrive in Saint Petersburg on weekends to visit our numerous gastro-bars, restaurants, food trucks and so on.
Consequently, Saint Petersburg is a must-visit place for all gourmands. Trust me!
Hm, I think I might create a gastro-tour for those who love delicious food as much as I do:)
In fact, it is a post of boasting. Because I'd love to present you an article in TASTE magazine. It is written by Michelle Coburn, who is today Senior Content Editor at Woolworths TASTE magazine. And who I have to thank for letting me show you this article. Michelle was one of South African journalists who came here on a board of a cruise ship. And I am delighted that I was a tour guide for this group. I am honoured to be mentioned in this article, which was written following the Baltic cruise. (And yes, this is where I do boast, hope you'll forgive me for this!)
I remember the eagerness to see, to learn, lots of questions, lots of laughs and an unprecedented tirelessness. I remember a sprint race we made to take photos of a Russian food market, or plates with chicken Kiev taken out to natural light for the better shot (as I know eventually, that it is wise to take pictures of food in natural light as it gives food better appearance).
I hope I will see my tourists here again. TASTE magazine is about food, isn't it? And I only want to add, that since then my gorgeous city has become the gastronomical capital of Russia. And though Moscow restaurants were given Michelin stars last year, I can assure you that many Muscovites arrive in Saint Petersburg on weekends to visit our numerous gastro-bars, restaurants, food trucks and so on.
Consequently, Saint Petersburg is a must-visit place for all gourmands. Trust me!
Hm, I think I might create a gastro-tour for those who love delicious food as much as I do:)
January 1, 2022
Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year 2022! I really hope this year will bring us health, love, openness, courage, kindness and wisdom! Be happy!
And come to Saint Petersburg next Christmas, plenty of this to do and to see! Like this elegant New Year Tree on Palace Square, which is natural and became one of the city highlights!
And come to Saint Petersburg next Christmas, plenty of this to do and to see! Like this elegant New Year Tree on Palace Square, which is natural and became one of the city highlights!
Palace Square
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg, Russia
December 25, 2020
Merry Christmas!
Merry, Merry X-mas to those who celebrate Christmas today!
I wish you to enjoy your holidays! Stay safe! And let miracles happen!
On Christmas Eve I invite you to admire this wonderful majolica. Just look at sad and tired Joseph, at tender Mary, at an angel and the Shepherds… Oh, I love them the most! See, the right one holds to the left one's shoulder. He's following the star! And doesn't want to falter and fall down, cause when you stare at the sky, you usually don't see anything under your feet…
Isn't it magic?
Nativity by the workshop of Luca della Robbia, circa 1450. The State Hermitage Museum.
I wish you to enjoy your holidays! Stay safe! And let miracles happen!
On Christmas Eve I invite you to admire this wonderful majolica. Just look at sad and tired Joseph, at tender Mary, at an angel and the Shepherds… Oh, I love them the most! See, the right one holds to the left one's shoulder. He's following the star! And doesn't want to falter and fall down, cause when you stare at the sky, you usually don't see anything under your feet…
Isn't it magic?
Nativity by the workshop of Luca della Robbia, circa 1450. The State Hermitage Museum.
August 10, 2020
The original recipe of one of my favourite Russian treats. Cook it and feel yourself like a Russian!
24 hours in the fridge and delicious half-salted gherkins are ready! Fresh & tender taste, light flavour of garlic & dill and they are sooooo…crunchy!
They are not pickles in the full sense of the word as we do not use vinegar. Just sparkling water plus salt, some herbs and garlic. That means salty, not sour!
This is my favourite relish. You can cook it any time of year, no doubt, but! In July, when many of us have a good crop of cucumbers, grown in our gardens, this relish turns into a real delicacy! This is what the Russians love to eat! Would you like a recipe? Here it is!
So to make perfect half-salted gherkins «à la Russian» you will need:
- 1 kg of fresh small gherkins
- 1 litre of San Pellegrino sparkling water (yep, sounds strange, but it works like this and you can, definitely, find it in any supermarket all over the world)
- 1 garlic bulb
- 1 big bunch of dill
- 2-4 tablespoons of salt (depends on how do you like it: more salty or less salty)
- Chop the bottom of each gherkin
- Take 1/2 of the dill and put it on the bottom of the pan (you will need a pan with a lid)
- Put the gherkins on the dill
- Slice the garlic cloves and mix them with the gherkins
- Melt salt in San Pellegrino
- Pour it over the gherkins
- Cover them with the second half of the dill
- Put a lid on the pan and put the pan into a fridge for 24 hours.
July 24, 2020
Revealing the mysteries of Russian history. Rulers of Russia before the Romanovs - who were they?
Do you know who was one of the most extraordinary women in Russian history? She was the very first woman on the Russian throne, the very first female Russian ruler, rumoured the very wise one and the first ruler to adopt Christianity. It was not Catherine the Great, nope. She lived at the beginning of the 10th century A.D. (c. 890-969). And her name was Olga. (pic 1)
Yesss! That is my name too, which is why I decided to tell you about her. Especially making allowances for the fact that today, the 24th of July, is her feast day. As she is also known as Saint Olga, Princess of Kyiv.
We actually know not much about her. You see, the first written testimonials — the Russian Primary Chronicle or the Tale of Bygone Years — appeared only in 1120-s. That is to say almost 200 years after her death. So, we literally cannot trust them. But this is the only evidence we've got.
Olga's life is mantled with myths and legends. And they are fascinating and cruel sometimes.
All these stories have no proof, and they are more like myths or even fairy-tales. But they made Olga popular and truly respected. She was even canonized and became Saint Olga. (pic 8 - sketch for St. Olga by Mikhail Nesterov, Kiev museum of Russian art; pic 9 - sketch for St. Olga by V. Vasnetsov, State Tretyakov Gallery)
And some more intriguing details. She was bringing up her grandchildren while her son Svyatoslav was fighting enemies. Her youngest grandson's name was Vladimir. He would Christianise Rus in 988 AD. The Prince who is so extremely worshipped in contemporary Russia. Guess why…
Their dynasty was the first Russian Dynasty. The Rurikids. They ruled since 862 and til 1598, when Fyodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) died. At that point the dark times commenced, which ended in 1613, with the Romanovs enthronement. But it is quite a different story…
Yesss! That is my name too, which is why I decided to tell you about her. Especially making allowances for the fact that today, the 24th of July, is her feast day. As she is also known as Saint Olga, Princess of Kyiv.
We actually know not much about her. You see, the first written testimonials — the Russian Primary Chronicle or the Tale of Bygone Years — appeared only in 1120-s. That is to say almost 200 years after her death. So, we literally cannot trust them. But this is the only evidence we've got.
Olga's life is mantled with myths and legends. And they are fascinating and cruel sometimes.
- Foremost, we do not know where she came from. Highly likely from a village near Pskov, one of the oldest Russian cities. A humble origin, aristocrats would say. But as for her nationality, she was presumably a Varangian or Scandinavian. Let's look at her name. Olga is similar to Helga. And Helga is a typical Scandinavian feminine name, which means «holy» or «blessed.»
- How could Prince Igor marry her then, a supposed peasant? A legend says Igor saw her once near the river and fall in love. But she rejected his advances and even declared she would rather have committed suicide than have submitted. Igor went away but remembered her. And when the moment came, he insisted on marrying her. Beautiful story, isn't it?
- So Olga became the Princess. In 945 circa Olga's husband, Igor was cruelly killed by the tribe of Drevlians. They lived in forests and paid tribute annually to Kyivan Rus, whose ruler Igor was. That year Igor arrived for tribute twice, which was actually pillage. That's why he was caught, his arms and legs were tied to two tilted pine trees. And when they were loosed, his body was torn into two. Horrible death! (pic 2)
- And can you imagine, the Prince of Drevlians, Mal sent envoys to Olga and asked her to marry him! Like «your husband is dead, you can't get him back, so let's make the most of the situation and unite our principalities…». Olga accepted the ambassadors and offered them a special gesture of honour. They were brought to the place of the welcoming feast in a boat. But…Bad for them. The men didn't even see the table with food and wine, as they were thrown into a large pit and were buried alive. (pic 3)
- Then Olga asked Mal to send other envoys, pretending that the first ones were not very honourable. Mal sent other men. These were invited to visit banya, where they were burnt.(pic 4)
- But it was not enough! Olga came to the Drevlians' state and besieged their capital. She was offered a ransom - expensive furs, as usual. But Olga asked for another type of payment - birds. Birds were taken from their nests in the city and brought to the Princess. She then tied some oakum to the birds' tails and wings and lit it. Thrilled creatures rushed back to their nests and the whole city was immediately set on fire.This is how Olga revenged for the death of her husband. (pic 5)
- Olga governed the country as her son Svyatoslav was a kid. (pic 6) And Olga's rule was wise. For example, she arranged special places for amassing tribute. And she limited the amount of the annual tribute, which excluded any attempts of pillaging. Wasn't it intelligent decision?
- She also became the very first Russian ruler who adopted Christianity. We know for sure she visited Constantinople several times. And as if Constantine Porphyrogenitus - the Byzantine Emperor was so charmed by her beauty that he decided to wed her. She was uneager to do that but could she repulse the mighty Emperor? Olga was clever. She mentioned she was a pagan, so she needed to be baptized. And she was, and the Emperor became Olga's Godfather and consequently could not marry her. (pic 7)
All these stories have no proof, and they are more like myths or even fairy-tales. But they made Olga popular and truly respected. She was even canonized and became Saint Olga. (pic 8 - sketch for St. Olga by Mikhail Nesterov, Kiev museum of Russian art; pic 9 - sketch for St. Olga by V. Vasnetsov, State Tretyakov Gallery)
And some more intriguing details. She was bringing up her grandchildren while her son Svyatoslav was fighting enemies. Her youngest grandson's name was Vladimir. He would Christianise Rus in 988 AD. The Prince who is so extremely worshipped in contemporary Russia. Guess why…
Their dynasty was the first Russian Dynasty. The Rurikids. They ruled since 862 and til 1598, when Fyodor I, the son of Ivan the Terrible (Ivan IV) died. At that point the dark times commenced, which ended in 1613, with the Romanovs enthronement. But it is quite a different story…
July 17, 2020
How did the Romanovs die?
The night on 17th of July… 102 years ago, in one house in Yekaterinburg, a big family was awakened under the pretext that the fight in the city was dangerous for them… They went down 23 steps… These were their last steps. Pain and death waited for them there, in the cellar of the Ipatiev House.
It was the Romanov family. A father - Nicholas, a mother - Alexandra, 5 children - sisters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Romanov and their only brother Alexei Romanov, Tsesarevich Alexei. The last Tsars of the Russian Empire. And four faithful servants, who followed them… Their assassination is still the mystery that has to be solved….And, I hope, it will be solved one day.
Because no matter what you think about Nicholas II, I am not a big fan of his, but...no one deserves such a horrible death, with no judgement, no justice... The details are really terrifying. It was hard for me to film and edit this video. But I am glad I did...
P.S. After I 'd posted the video on YouTube I read, that the investigating officer announced that the murderers did not use the acid and did not burn the bodies. Should we believe it or not?....The case is not closed yet, and I am afraid, the truth will never be revealed.
It was the Romanov family. A father - Nicholas, a mother - Alexandra, 5 children - sisters Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia Romanov and their only brother Alexei Romanov, Tsesarevich Alexei. The last Tsars of the Russian Empire. And four faithful servants, who followed them… Their assassination is still the mystery that has to be solved….And, I hope, it will be solved one day.
Because no matter what you think about Nicholas II, I am not a big fan of his, but...no one deserves such a horrible death, with no judgement, no justice... The details are really terrifying. It was hard for me to film and edit this video. But I am glad I did...
P.S. After I 'd posted the video on YouTube I read, that the investigating officer announced that the murderers did not use the acid and did not burn the bodies. Should we believe it or not?....The case is not closed yet, and I am afraid, the truth will never be revealed.
July 08, 2020
How to make the most of your visit to Saint Petersburg, Russia?
The answer is, probably, not so obvious, but...here it is! You should see St. Petersburg from three different heights.
Just watch my short video about Palace Square (which is in St. Petersburg, Russia) and see for yourself!
- From water. Which is why a canal boat ride is one of the essential "what to do in Saint Petersburg" things.
- From a bird's-eye view. You can go up the colonnade of St. Isaac's cathedral for that. Or visit one of the city's rooftops. Safe and fabulous climbing!
- And the last, but not the least! From your own height! Which means you have to walk. It is simple. And costs nothing. And will present you with totally unforgettable emotions!
Just watch my short video about Palace Square (which is in St. Petersburg, Russia) and see for yourself!
July 03, 2020
When your family name can be found in Space....
Did you know that long long ago, in the XIX century, the «zero» meridian for the Russian Empire was not Greenwich? It was Pulkovo meridian, 30 degrees of the E (east longitude). The one on which our unique Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory was built. And the first stone in its foundation as laid out on this day - the 3rd of July, in 1835.
Oh, it was an event of immense significance for the Russian and world science. The founder of the observatory Vassiliy Struve has got a «carte blanche» from Tsar Nicholas I and very soon the observatory turned into an "Astronomical capital of the world". Since then Russian astronomers make here astronomical observations of high accuracy. They are effective for navigation, geodesy and other spheres of life and science. Pulkovo astronomers were also involved in asteroids and comets observations.
And my great grandfather was among them. His name was Grigory Neujmin (it is not easy to write Russian names in foreign languages that's why the spelling of my name and of my great granddad differ) and his nickname was «the comet catcher» as he discovered several periodic comets. He is also credited with the discovery of 74 asteroids, and notably 951 Gaspra and 762 Pulcova. And nowadays a minor planet №1129 bears his name as well as one of the lunar craters of the far side of Moon.
Grigory Neujmin became the director of Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in 1944. That means he started all the reconstruction works in the observatory immediately after the siege of Leningrad had been lifted.
It's an honour to be a great-granddaughter of such a man. A responsibility and...an enormous pleasure, of course, to have your family name fixed in Space for eternity!
P.S. Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory has an incredible museum! And I would be happy to arrange for you a private tour. It is possible to look into ancient telescopes, some are quite rare. So if you're keen on astronomy, space and stars, and you are thinking about what to do in St. Petersburg, you should never miss this cradle of astronomical science!
Oh, it was an event of immense significance for the Russian and world science. The founder of the observatory Vassiliy Struve has got a «carte blanche» from Tsar Nicholas I and very soon the observatory turned into an "Astronomical capital of the world". Since then Russian astronomers make here astronomical observations of high accuracy. They are effective for navigation, geodesy and other spheres of life and science. Pulkovo astronomers were also involved in asteroids and comets observations.
And my great grandfather was among them. His name was Grigory Neujmin (it is not easy to write Russian names in foreign languages that's why the spelling of my name and of my great granddad differ) and his nickname was «the comet catcher» as he discovered several periodic comets. He is also credited with the discovery of 74 asteroids, and notably 951 Gaspra and 762 Pulcova. And nowadays a minor planet №1129 bears his name as well as one of the lunar craters of the far side of Moon.
Grigory Neujmin became the director of Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory in 1944. That means he started all the reconstruction works in the observatory immediately after the siege of Leningrad had been lifted.
It's an honour to be a great-granddaughter of such a man. A responsibility and...an enormous pleasure, of course, to have your family name fixed in Space for eternity!
P.S. Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory has an incredible museum! And I would be happy to arrange for you a private tour. It is possible to look into ancient telescopes, some are quite rare. So if you're keen on astronomy, space and stars, and you are thinking about what to do in St. Petersburg, you should never miss this cradle of astronomical science!
June 30, 2020
St. Petersburg's "French beauty"
Would you like to know where to find a "French beauty" in Saint Petersburg? In the historical centre of the city, not far from Summer Gardens and Field of Mars. And not far from the ancient French embankment also.
There it is - behind my back! A chef-d'œuvre of bridge construction - the Trinity (or Troitsky) bridge! It is one of the main tourists attractions. So if you're reflecting upon what to see in St. Petersburg, Russia - this might be one of the stops in your sightseeing tour here!
Look at it! Beauty? No doubt! But why French? Watch the video to find out!
P.S. By the way the video is edited by me, and I am extremely proud of it! Well, lockdown might be useful sometimes...:D
There it is - behind my back! A chef-d'œuvre of bridge construction - the Trinity (or Troitsky) bridge! It is one of the main tourists attractions. So if you're reflecting upon what to see in St. Petersburg, Russia - this might be one of the stops in your sightseeing tour here!
Look at it! Beauty? No doubt! But why French? Watch the video to find out!
P.S. By the way the video is edited by me, and I am extremely proud of it! Well, lockdown might be useful sometimes...:D
June 24, 2020
Happy Birthday, Tsars' Village!
We are joyfully celebrating another big day today! No-no, not the one, you've probably heard of…. 310 years ago, on 24th of June 1710, Peter the Great made a present to his beloved mistress Marta Skavronskaya. The lady would become his wife two years later and would finally be crowned as the Empress Catherine the First.
Important notice! Do not confuse Catherine I with Catherine II = Catherine the Great, who was also our ruler. But she would sit on the Russian throne 35 years later, in 1762.
Let's go back to Peter the Great's present. It was a small farm, Sarskaya Mysa. Where a palace was erected. The one that people would entitle Catherine Palace. And the farm grew into a town - Tsars' Village (or Tsarskoye Selo). And it became the most opulent and breathtaking summer residence of the Romanovs!
So, happy birthday, Tsarskoye Selo!
As it is closed now — because of the coronavirus — I offer you a bunch of pictures, taken several years ago in the Park adjacent to the palace! It is formidable, isn't it? Especially painted in these vibrant colours.
So when you have a chance to come to see Catherine Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, don't forget to stroll down the park's alleys and make the most of your visit!
Important notice! Do not confuse Catherine I with Catherine II = Catherine the Great, who was also our ruler. But she would sit on the Russian throne 35 years later, in 1762.
Let's go back to Peter the Great's present. It was a small farm, Sarskaya Mysa. Where a palace was erected. The one that people would entitle Catherine Palace. And the farm grew into a town - Tsars' Village (or Tsarskoye Selo). And it became the most opulent and breathtaking summer residence of the Romanovs!
So, happy birthday, Tsarskoye Selo!
As it is closed now — because of the coronavirus — I offer you a bunch of pictures, taken several years ago in the Park adjacent to the palace! It is formidable, isn't it? Especially painted in these vibrant colours.
So when you have a chance to come to see Catherine Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia, don't forget to stroll down the park's alleys and make the most of your visit!
I will be extremely delighted if you decide to
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Photo credits: Olga Neuymina
Videography: SOL.graphics
All photo and video materials belong to their owners and are used for demonstration purposes only. Please do not use them in commercial projects.
Videography: SOL.graphics
All photo and video materials belong to their owners and are used for demonstration purposes only. Please do not use them in commercial projects.
