Tag Archives: history

I am a self-professed history nerd, especially when it comes to modern history. As I’m now into my final week in St. Petersburg, I find myself looking at the long list of must-see sights I made in my first week and despairing at how few I’ve managed to cross off. Russia’s modern history was one… Continue reading →

During my time in St. Petersburg so far, I have walked past St. Isaac’s Cathedral and been quietly impressed with it more times than I can say. However, I never took the time to find out about the history of it, but the 249th anniversary of its inauguration today has given me a great opportunity… Continue reading →

If you are spending a prolonged period in Russia, you may be lucky enough to have friends or family from your native country coming to visit. My mum and sister came to visit me last week, and as with them, it is probably unlikely that a group of visitors will know any Russian or will… Continue reading →

Tauride Garden – Таврический сад The English gardener William Gould was charged with designing the Tauride Garden in true Romantic style, and it was originally laid out in 1783-9 for the estate of Catherine the Great’s favourite (and alleged lover) Grigory Potemkin. The Garden and the adjoining Tauride Palace are named after Potemkin’s title: Prince… Continue reading →

Каша is usually translated as porridge, but that is more of an umbrella term for the following four main types: Манная каша: made by cooking milk and semolina with a lot of sugar, tricky to cook and not healthy. Гречневая каша: made with buckwheat, which is particularly popular as a savoury side dish with beef… Continue reading →