Moscow vs. St. Pete: Comparisons?!!?

With the 2018 World Cup happening now in Russia, there is much attention now on St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc. During our 2008 Baltics sailing, we fortunately had three days docked in St. Petersburg, allowing us to do a one-day trip to and back from Moscow. Loved seeing both great and historic cities. But, they are very, very different!!

From the Sidney Morning Herald and other Fairfax newspapers in Australia last month, they have this headline: “Moscow on Par with St. Petersburg” with these highlights: “Moscow is the heart of Russia, St Petersburg is the brain, they say. Moscow is 'shock-and-awe glitz', St Petersburg is 'genuine posh'. Moscow is 'more aggressive, pushy, busier', its rival is 'politer, more philosophical'. Moscow looks eastwards, St Petersburg outwards. And, as one student website bravely suggests, Petersburg with its wonderful Hermitage inheritance was built by architects, while Moscow — the modern stuff, at least — was 'created by humourless Soviet city-planners using bulldozers and concrete-mixers'.”

Lots of interesting details and pictures in this story. Many, many options to consider in both cities. Need to do good advance research to make sure your priorities are in the best order. Brings back nice memories for Moscow, etc.!!

Full story at:

https://www.escape.com.au/world/europe/moscow-on-a-par-with-st-petersburg-world-cup-or-not/news-story/5e5f743aad872aa7ec8be19d3a32790b

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 227,736 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

Several years ago we did a visa free cruise to St. Petersburg. While it was a great experience we felt rushed and knew that we missed a lot. On that trip we were in St. Petersburg in May for one evening, but we want to spend more time in Russa.

Last year we did a ten day trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg organized through Adventura Travel in St. Petersburg (which I reviewed on Trip Advisor). Moscow and St. Petersburg are great cities. I am glad we saw both, but both were different experiences. I think that Moscow is a combination of New York and Washington, D.C., the political and economic center of Russia, while St. Petersburg seems to be like Boston, the cultural capital. We started our trip from Helsinki by train and took a train to Moscow. We flew out from Moscow.

We had excellent guides, but in the evenings we were able to do our own adventures. An evening in the Hermitage, the circus in Moscow, eating dinner with young Russians at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Moscow, and ballroom dancing near the Rostol Columns in St. Petersburg were just some of the highlights.