[Travel-Post] Full of love, St. Petersburg + Vyborg (D+26)

We arrived St. Petersburg by the night train from Moskva at 5:30 am.

The train was not a bed, we should sleep with sitting.

So We were a little bit tired when we arrived.

Fortunately, my host picked us up at the bus station.

A bit tired state.

He was smiling at us when he saw us at the first time.

and When we got to his house, He and his wife made a breakfast for us.

It was my first meeting with Egor & Eugenia.

The breakfast they made for us.

D+1 In St. Petersburg

We left our bags at their house and got out.

We started our day at early morning, so we needed some caffeine.

And my best way to get some caffeine is the chocolate.

The best chocolate in Russia.

Our host's house was little far from the city center.

So we took a bus.

When we got off on the bus, there was something huge.

Kazan Cathedral.

It was huge and beautiful.

We couldn't pass easily.

Then we started to walk without any destination.

It was so beautiful.

St. Petersburg is more similar with Europe.

Because St. Petersburg was Europe when It was built.

For a long time, St. Petersburg was called "The Venice of the North."

Look like the Venice.

It was raining and getting worse.

So we just went in some place to avoid the rain.

Also, we were bit tired.

A bit later we went to the inside of Kazan Cathedral.

Every city we went except Vladivostok has a Kazan Cathedral.

The best Kazan Cathedral was in Irkutsk. (It was holy.)

And the worst Kazan Cathedral was in Moskva. (It looks like the tourist place.)

St. Petersburg Kazan Cathedral is in middle of them.

It was not too good, not too bad.

Anyway, religion is always sacred.

Then Igor called me to hang-out together.

So we met Igor & Eugenia and walked around.

They took us several places.

Church of the savior on spilled blood.

Peter & Paul fortress.

To be with them was so much enjoyable.

They are fun and kind.

We were bit tired but so much happy.

The darkness is falling and the city is changed.

There were so many stars in the city.

It was amazing.

There is a funny thing.

We saw a great shape of a building and asked Eugenia.

'What is that building?' She said 'I don't know. It's just an old building.'

Russia had a strong history, so they have a lot of just old building. :)

We were hungry.

So we have been to a restaurant.

And It was so delicious.

The blin & Borsh. Traditional Russian food.

Then we came back home.
Before going home, We have been to MTS which is the telephone company.
We have bought a Simcard at the airport, Vladivostok.
But It doesn't work. So they asked for us.
We couldn't find a solution.
But the thing is they helped us. :)

D+2 In St. Petersburg

Today is a day to go to the Hermitage Museum with Revecca.
There is an English guided tour at 1:40 pm and It goes an hour.
So we went out.
(Of course, Igor & Eugenia served breakfast for us.)

The weather was good.

We bought two tickets. One for the entry and one for the tour.

How magnificent.

There are so many things to see.

Before we were going out the house, Eugenia said 'One of my teachers said you can't see all thing in the Heritage Museum for even 20 years.'

We also agree.

Just after the tour, we were bit tired.

So we have been to the Museum's cafeteria and got a cuppa tea.

Then we looked around again.

We spent almost 5 hours in the Museum. But we just saw the second floor.

After the Museum, we met Igor & Eugenia again with his friends Sasha & Irina.

We have been to a pub.

Then they ordered a shot of the Vodka.

First one was good.

It was colorful and even delicious.

Then they ordered original Vodka.

And Eugenia has shown us how to drink the Vodka like Russian.

After 3 shots of the Vodka, We were very happy.

The traces of the Vodka.

So we have been to Sasha's house to drink more Vodka.

And Slowa and Rove also came Sasha's house.

Sasha pulled out the homemade Vodka.

OMG.

There is nothing to say anymore.

It was just totally fun and enjoyable.

Good snack for Vodka.

He is excited about Vodka.

Everybody is excited about Vodka.

Rove's trademark is Kawai.

After a crazy party, we went out to go home.

But our party was still going on in the street.

D+3 In St. Petersburg

We didn't have any plan for this day.

but Igor proposed to go to Peterhof Park.

So we went to.

It was very beautiful.

It is called 'Russian Versailles'.

Igor said It is much beautiful in summer, but It was still beautiful.

We just took a walk.

Everywhere is white, and beauty.

The trees are naked but shining.

It was so peaceful.

A Lovely couple.

The ice came to the beach.

And they are prepared to freeze.

The real winter is coming in Russia.

Then we have been to a cafe to warm our bodies.

All they did in the cafe is just watching the pigs videos as usual.

Cause they love the pig.

And Jin & I love the elephant.

So we were watching the elephant videos.

We have been to a post office also.

We wanted to send the postcard to our friends.

When we came back home, we made Korean food for Igor & Eugenia.

Fortunately, they enjoyed our food.

D+4 In St. Petersburg

As usual, we didn't have any plan.

So we decided to take a walk everywhere in the city center.

Because It was so beautiful like Venice as I wrote.

There are many rivers and bridges, and those are making the city beautiful.

We like to walk.
So we walked almost 4 hours.
But every time, everywhere are brilliant.

Especially the night view is amazing.

We needed to say goodbye to Revecca also.

She didn't have the plan to come to St. Petersburg.

But It seems we made her come to St. Petersburg.

It was last day to see her in Russia.

But we don't mind. We will meet in somewhere again.

When we came back home.

Igor & Eugenia made dinner for us.

That was great.

They prepared even some Salo.

Cause we had Salo once. and It was too salty and greasy.

I said that to them.

Then they prepared good taste Salo for me.

How can I not love these guys?

The last dinner.

D+5 In St. Peterburg

It was time to go.

So we said goodbye to them and went out.

We decided to go hitchhike from St. Petersburg.

But we didn't have any experience for that.

So we just started without any information.

A person who is not ready.

We tried to hitchhike for 3 hours in cold weather.

Nobody came to us except one car.

But the owner of a car was living in St. Petersburg.

So It wasn't helpful.

And It was getting dark.

Then she came to us.

"You can't get any car that going to Helsinki. It is too close to the city center. If you want, you can sleep in my house. Then you can try tomorrow."

OMG.

She is an angel. and She saved us.

She is Julia and a user of Couchsurfing.

So we took a rest in her's house.