From Russia, with love: Scenes from Moscow and St. Petersburg via Instagram

BY ONEIKA RAYMOND

More photos and words from my recent trip to Russia.

Did you know that Russia is the largest country in the world? It covers more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area.  For this reason it was impossible to see and do much in my short 10-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but I sure did try!

In sum, I ate, I shivered, I had my edges snatched and breath taken away by the stunning scenery and architecture.

And, as always, I documented the journey on good ole’ Instagram.

So here’s a round-up of all my IG posts for the trip, for those who either aren’t on IG (you’re missing out!) or who are on it but for some unknown reason don’t follow my feed (shame on you! Just kidding!)

With that said, I must admit that I’ve really begun to enjoy these round-up posts, if only because they provide a pretty thorough, fairly chronological timeline of what I’ve done and seen in a particular destination! If you’re digging this post, you can check out my previous IG blow-by-blows on Bolivia (click here) and Jamaica (click here).

Ready? Here we go!

Got my rubles, tourist visa, and multiple layers of clothing for the cold. Russia, here I come!

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

Love is when Bae only packs a carry on but still manages to bring your massive winter coat from New York City so you don’t freeze your butt off in Russia. When I moved to Hong Kong in January I only packed summer clothes and left all my winter gear with him in our apartment in New York. After all, I was only going to be away for a few months, and Hong Kong doesn’t really get *that* cold. I also envisioned I would spend hot humid holidays in locales around South East Asia. Like Laos. Perhentian Islands in Malaysia. Boracay. That sort of thing. And then we decided to meet up in Russia for Easter. Oops! So today, on Easter Eve, I am thankful for 3 things: my considerate husband (who is proof long distance can work), down-filled outerwear from @zara, and United Airlines’ generous cabin baggage limits. I’m *winning* today on so many levels!

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

It’s funny how you can have pre-conceived notions about a place you’ve never been to before. Prior to coming to Russia, I assumed it would be very grim and spare; dark, dilapidated, unfriendly, and foreboding. But what I’ve encountered in Moscow has been anything but. The city is grand, opulent. Locals have been very welcoming (lots of smiles in the streets and in stores, and on two separate occasions I have approached and asked if I needed help). Infrastructure is great, there’s wifi everywhere! And the restaurant scene is popping. You can seriously eat like a king or queen here. The architecture…. well I’ll let the picture speak for itself. Now I’ve only been here 36 hours and am known for making snap judgements, so you can take my musings with a grain of salt. But in terms of first impressions… Russia has been a very pleasant surprise! I could definitely see myself coming back here! More observations after I’ve seen and done a bit more. Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by a destination?

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

Matryoshka dolls, otherwise known as Babushka or Russian nesting dolls, are a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. They are probably one of the most salient physical symbols of Russia to the average tourist– well, after borscht, the Red Square, and Barishnikov, ha! While the exact purpose and origins of the toy are unknown, a shopkeeper we met yesterday said that they are a symbol of fertility, and that it is common practice to give them to women who are trying to get pregnant. Apparently the number of dolls inside the main doll signifies the number of children you wish for the recipient to have– this figure ranges anywhere from 5 to 15. Welp. So while I’m not superstitious in the least, this is the point where I tell you that me and my ovaries would greatly appreciate it if you brought us back something ELSE from Russia the next time you go. #NotTryingToHaveFiveKids

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

A few fun facts: Moscow’s subway system is the busiest outside of Asia, the 5th longest in the world, and was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. It has 200 stations in total and is one of the world’s deepest subway systems with Park Pobedy clocking in at 243 feet below ground! However, beyond all the impressive quantitative stats, many would concede that Moscow’s subway is also one of the most beautiful. Many of the stations are ornately decorated with crown mouldings, gargoyles, frescos, and mosaics– a sort of living, breathing, bustling museum! As such, riding the rails here is quite a novel, evocative experience for a tourist like myself. Definitely more than just a way to get from point A to point B! This is the view at Komsomolskaya Station, where I changed trains earlier on today. What a beaut! NYC subway, take notes!

A video posted by @oneikatraveller on

So… I must admit that I was a little bummed when grey skies greeted us upon our arrival in St. Petersburg yesterday afternoon. My feelings of dread increased when I woke up this morning to rain– we had such a lucky streak with the weather in Moscow that I had a secret hope that it would persist. Wrong! Foul weather is forecasted for the rest of the week. Sunglasses have been packed away. Gloves have made an appearance again. Womp womp. But then, St. Petersburg is probably best explored indoors– known for its stunning museums and churches, the ornate interiors provide eye candy for days. Don’t believe me? Peep this snapshot of the innards of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (say that 5 times fast, haha). Who needs sun when the ceiling is so bright, huh?! Thinking I might need to break out the shades again *aaaand* slather on some SPF 50. Awesome! Things are looking up (pun totally intended)….

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

From Russia, with Love. #WannabeBondGirl

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

My new living room…? No, but for real, The Hermitage Museum is probably the single most extensive and elaborate man-made structure I’ve ever been in. The museum complex is comprised of six historic buildings that hold about 3 million items altogether; they are also home to the largest art collection in the world! But forget about its size and artwork for a moment– can we talk about the interiors?! The Hermitage’s Winter Palace in particular puts all other royal domiciles I’ve ever been to shame. For never have I spent so much time craning my neck to look at ceilings or fighting the urge to stroke wallpaper. The experience was wholly impressive, but also ruinous. Because how will I ever be content with binge watching HGTV or completely furnishing my apartment with IKEA? The decor game has officially been elevated, and the struggle from now on will be all too real.

A photo posted by @oneikatraveller on

What do you think of Russia? Stay tuned for more blog posts and make sure to follow me on Instagram for daily travel photos and inspiration!

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80 Comments

  • Love this post!! Your photos are gorgeous and the captions are the perfect mix of informative and funny! I want to visit Russia so much!

  • Wow Russia looks absolutely stunning! I have to admit that it is on my don’t care to visit list mainly because of the racism and homophobia. It isn’t about boycotting a place, and more I don’t want to go somewhere that they don’t want me. I know it isn’t all Russians but enough that I don’t want to spend my money there and rather go somewhere else where the people welcome tourists with a darker hue. So glad you went but I still won’t be going any time soon. Rather go to hundreds of other places first.

  • Gorgeous post – Russia is one of my dream destinations to visit and this has increased my yearn!!

    Love the blog – I have just started and this has has really inspired me.

  • Great photos, Oneika! Out of curiosity, did you experience much racism at all while in Russia? The reason I ask is that I am in an interracial relationship, as well, and my significant other is a bit concerned about any racism that might be directed towards here. I have been telling her that it probably isn’t nearly as bad as she thinks, and that it is no different than anywhere else in the world. What was your opinion while travelling to Moscow and St. Petersburg?

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