Five Weeks in Russia

Out of everywhere I ate in St. Pete, this was by far my favorite! It's right off Nevskey Prospekt but on a side street close to the university. So it has an English menu for tourists, but also caters to the local students.

The food is wonderful. The best beef stroganoff (and I am not usually a fan) that I have ever had. Good selection of wines (try the house, it's pretty good and dirt cheap) and lots of Russian salads for appetizers and to share. There is also fresh white bread on the table (not brown bread). Everywhere you go they serve this brown bread, so this is a welcome change! The desserts are also amazing. A whole dinner will run you under $15 with wine.

I saw two performances at the Mariinseky and enjoyed them both. I really enjoyed hearing the 1812 Overture played in Russia! The ballet was also wonderful.

A tip to travelers: If you buy tickets through your hotel or a tourist place in the city you will get completely ripped off on the tickets. I was a student so I was able to get student tickets at the box office for $10. I watched a couple in front of me buy full price tickets for $40. They were foreigners but spoke enough Russian to get tickets. At the performance we sat next to some other Americans who had paid $100 per ticket through their tour group! So, beware! If you can get a local to buy you the tickets, do it. They have special rates (or something).