Month: February 2021

Visit St. Petersburg, Russia

Bronze equestrian monument of Nicholas I of Russia on St. Isaac’s Square. Saint Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg is a Russian town on the northern part of the Black Sea coast. It was formerly the capital of imperial Russia, possessing been the national capital for over 2 centuries.

Today it is one of its most vibrant cities, hosting several prestigious events and attracting tourists from around the world. It also boasts a rich cultural heritage.

Here we take a brief look at some of the key St. Petersburg attractions that are worth a visit.

Museum of St. Petersburg

A must see for all St. Petersburg tourists is the Museum of St. Petersburg, which houses numerous collections including ancient sculptures, magnificent frescoes, and priceless works of art.

The Museum is located in the Old Town, next to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Inside you will find the largest collection of its kind outside of Moscow. You will find beautiful sculptures depicting Russian leaders, such as Alexsandovalov and KGB leader Mikhail Ivanovsky.

Visitors will be astounded by the variety of objects, including balls, tridents, knives, whips, and chains, as well as wooden toys depicting medieval life in St. Petersburg. The museum has recently undergone a major makeover, revamping its appearance and decor. New artifacts are being added to its collection, including a ten-ton iron statue of a whale.

The Russian Cathedral

The Russian Cathedral in St. Petersburg is the third largest Cathedral in the world. Built in 1700, it stands at the center of the city and was made to honor the memory of Peter, Prince of Russia.

This cathedral is considered one of the most important attractions in St. Petersburg as it attracts thousands of visitors every year. It is visited by the heads of state and government from around the world.

Besides being a religious icon, the cathedral is also a famous place to shop. The main entrance, which is on the top of the staircase, is a popular place for those who want to shop for fashionable clothes and other items.

There are also some taster bars located in front of the Cathedral, where visitors can try a sampling of different Russian drinks such as caviar and pomelo. 

Shopping

St. Petersburg also offers a wide selection of interesting shops. Several small boutiques and gift shops showcase unique handbags, shoes, silverware, and jewelry.

A popular street vendor is the “Maxim,” a small shop on Tverskaya just north of the train station. Here you can find unique perfumes, clothing, and souvenirs.

The “Levy” is another store with international quality of goods, where you can also purchase computer equipment and other supplies.

The Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra

The Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1882 and is one of the oldest symphonic and all-around string orchestra in the country. The group has numerous affiliates all over the world including Australia, Canada, USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and many others. The group consistently maintains high standards, performing regularly all over the world.

The Orchestra has two main concert pavilions in Saint Petersburg, the main auditorium on Tverskaya just west of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and the adjacent Saint Petersburg State University gymnasium.

The Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra performs at most important festivals throughout the year. They are also regularly invited to participate in the International Festival of Arts in New York.

Wrapping Up

There are many things to see and experience in St. Petersburg, making it a great place to go during your stay in this region of the world. You will find a number of luxury resorts, hotels and guest houses here.

However, before booking your accommodation, be sure to take your time and look around online to get the best deals and discounts.

The Serengeti National Park

Zebra in National Park. Africa, Kenya

Have you ever been on a Safari? If not, Safari Serengeti is the one to visit. It is one of the most popular safaris in Africa and is visited by thousands of tourists each year.

The Serengeti National Park is Africa’s most famous wildlife hotspot. It covers an area of approximately ten thousand square kilometers and has a variety of landscape characteristics, including desert, grasslands, mountains, and plains. 

The park has a population of about twenty-two hundred thousand chimpanzees and other large animals. On the Serengeti plains, a variety of wild animals can be found browsing on plant-covered slopes or foraging through waiting watering holes. A variety of birds can be seen throughout the year, with nearly half of the species migrating to Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve in the north-central Serengeti plains.

The Serengeti Migration

The Serengeti migration is seasonal. There are two migration routes, the northern and the southern route.

In summer, the northern route is the only available route for migration and the remaining animals head south for the winter. The southern route starts from the southern Serengeti plains and goes as far south as the Malindi basin.

The migration is a highly migratory event, with nearly forty percent of the whole population visiting the Serengeti each year.

The majority of the park’s animals migrate to feed at the many lakes located in its central plateau. The lakes provide water and a safe place for the animals to survive harsh winter weather. 

The Serengeti National Park is a great location for bird watchers to observe this migratory process, and many people come to the park to watch birds in their natural habitat.

The Big Five

Among the many animals inhabiting Africa’s savanna vegetation, perhaps none is more quintessential to the essence of what the continent is all about than the big five animals.

With their graceful grace and extravagant physical features, these creatures are reminders of the awe-inspiring beauty of primordial Africa – the realm in which the great migration waves first made their perilous voyage across the heavens on the dawn of creation.

Today, the magnificent big five animals – leopards, black rhinos, African lion, Asian elephant, and Cape buffalo – can be found in The Serengeti National Park!

While some of the big five animals have their origins in other parts of the world (the big five animals all descend from the horse line, after all), all five are native to Africa and can be found in the greatest expanse of the most beautiful place on Earth: the Serengeti.

For years, the Serengeti has been the favored destination for those seeking an amazing array of wildlife and scenery, with millions of visitors each year marveling at the wonder of the wild in all its glory.

The primary reason that The Serengeti has become such a favored destination is the fact that it is among the last places on Earth where you will find large herds of wildebeests, which roam freely and hunt by night for the huge herds of wildebeest and other herbivores that inhabit the landscape.

The Serengeti also offers a number of other opportunities for visitors to spend time in the wild, including but not limited to tracking down a variety of wild animals and plants, hiking to high areas, camping in open grasslands, and taking advantage of one of the many outfitter companies in town.

Final Thoughts

If you plan to visit the Serengeti, then you will need to arrange your trip several months in advance to allow for plenty of time for research and planning. You can expect to see a variety of different animals once you reach the park, including wildebeests, lions, hyenas, buffaloes, zebras, elephants, rhinos, and Cape buffalo. The migration season is from June to September, so you will have a good chance of seeing animals migration from all over the world. It’s also important to be aware that while the animals are plentiful in the Serengeti, they do become overpopulated at certain times of the year. If you want to see the animals and avoid overcrowded areas, then plan to visit the park in the winter.

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