St. Petersburg

At the beginning of December, it was time for the next trip to St. Petersburg. This time, the focus was on culture - attendance at a KHL game was on the itinerary.

The usual suspects cheerfully set off on the Allegro train. Sesse managed not to lose her ticket and the only excitement was caused by Peter being singled out for extra thorough checking at the border - the only person in the whole carriage. Yippee!

We stayed at the usual hotel, Hotel Dostoyevsky, and the trip began with shopping for art supplies for H-M. Then it was time to head off for dinner, which Tiina had decreed would be in the fine restaurant, Stroganoff Steak House. The food was excellent. I enjoyed the Baikal omul, well, at least until I found out it was a somewhat endangered species, and the local sausages, and the others enjoyed the signature stroganoff (the adults) and the less-signature burgers (children). After dinner, we met up for a quick chat with Viktoria.

The breakfast at the hotel is really nothing to write home about and the ladies decided they wanted something rather better. So, we went off on a search, ending up at the Jazz Bar 48 Chairs, where the ladies had their breakfast and the boys a cup of coffeee (Peter) and orange juice (Thomas and Henry).

Sesse with her tea, but waiting for her omelette.

Interior of the jazz bar.

Suitably fortified, we went on our way into a rainy city, with Sesse, as usual, being an excellent guide. We were in Russia at the time of the parliamentary elections, as can be seen by the hoarding promoting the United Russia party. United Russia is the ruling party and did less well than anticipated. My feeling is that the people were upset with too many manifestations of the arrogance of power, in particular the decision to change the time, meaning that in St. Petersburg it doesn't get light until nearly eleven in the morning.

Electoral poster on Nevsky Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main thoroughfare.

The weather was not too friendly, but nothing to stop intrepid tourist like us.

Rainy St. Petersburg.


Rainy St. Petersburg (Singer Building on Nevesky Prospekt).

After a bout of sightseeing, it was time for a trolley bus ride, followed by lunch at a Japanese-Italian restaurant, Yakitoriya, where Thomas was a little disappointed with his portion, but Tiina and Henry were much happier with theirs.

Thomas eyeing his rather meagre lunch.

Henry and Tiina looking much more content.

Poor Thomas needed a snack immediately after eating his meal! Henry was very helpful and used his Russian skills to get him a meat pie (pirozhki). Thomas certainly does not need to slim!

Then it was off to the ice-hockey stadium to see the KHL game, CKA Saint Peterburg vs Spartak Moscow. The place was rocking, the hockey was good, and a fun time was had by all - except maybe the supporters of Spartak, as their team took a bit of a hiding.

Henry with his fan 'tattoo'.

Tiina and Henry

Building up the atmosphere.

Changeover.

A post-game snack - blinis at a Teremok kiosk.

The next morning it was an early start and the train back to Finland.

Of course, no report of a trip to St. Petersburg is complete without the obligatory photo of a church.

St. Isaac's Cathedral at night.