Travel First

Day 4 (and the final one) in St Petersburg...and it’s an Uber ride to visit the opulent Catherine Palace, Pushkin.The Catherine Palace is a Rococo palace located in the town of Tsarskoye Selo, 30 km south of St. Petersburg, Russia. It was the summer residence of the Russian tsars. WikipediaSubscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravelGoogle+:      https://plus.google.com/u/2/collection/wi0YaB If you're enjoying Travel First, please share and tell your friends. Thank you... #travel #Russia #Europe #holiday #podcast #travelfirst #stpetersburg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  See acast.com/privacy for privacy

Day 3 in St Petersburg...and on foot again covering 20 plus Kms in the day.Highlights of the day include:The Moika Palace or Yusupov Palace was once the primary residence in St. Petersburg, Russia of the House of Yusupov. The building was the site of Grigori Rasputin's murder in the early morning of December 17, 1916.Wikipedia                                   Saint Isaac's Cathedral or Isaakievskiy Sobor in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city. It is the largest orthodox basilica and the fourth largest cathedral in the world. WikipediaThe Bronze Horseman is an equestrian statue of Peter the Great in the Senate Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Commissioned by Catherine the Great, it was created by the French sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet. WikipediaThe Admiralty building is the former headquarters of the Admiralty Board and the Imperial Russian Navy in St. Petersburg, Russia and the current headquarters of the Russian Navy. WikipediaSmolny Convent or Smolny Con

Day 2 in St Petersburg...and it's New Years Day 2019 so all public buildings are closed.Alex takes to foot to see what he can find.Highlights of the day include:The Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg is the third largest synagogue in Europe. It was built between 1880 and 1888, and consecrated in December 1893. The Synagogue is located at 2 Lermontovskii Prospekt, St. Petersburg, Russia. The Chief Rabbi of St. Petersburg is Menachem Mendel Pewzner. Wikipedia                                      New Holland Island is a historic triangular artificial island in Saint Petersburg, Russia, dating from the 18th century. WikipediaSubscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www

Alex moves on to St Petersburg...Day 1St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works.Highlights of the day include:The Mariinsky Theatre is a historic theatre of opera and ballet in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Opened in 1860, it became the preeminent music theatre of late 19th-century Russia, where many of the stage masterpieces of Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov received their premieres. Wikipedia                                            The State Russian Museum, formerly the Russian Museum of His Imperial Majesty Alexander III, located on Arts Square in Saint Petersburg, is the world's largest depository of Russian fine art. It is also o

Day 9 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...one last bit of sightseeing...then off to St PetersburgHighlights of the day include:Ostankino Tower is a television and radio tower in Moscow, Russia, owned by the Moscow branch of unitary enterprise Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Network. Standing 540.metres, Ostankino was designed by Nikolai Nikitin. It is currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe and 11th tallest in the world. WikipediaThe Bullet Train ride to St PetersburgThe State Hermitage Museum (Russian: Госуда́рственный Эрмита́ж, tr. Gosudárstvennyj Ermitáž, IPA: [ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪnɨj ɪrmʲɪˈtaʂ]) is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The second-largest art museum in the world, it was founded in 1764 when Empress Catherine the Great acquired an impressive collection of paintings from the Berlin merchant Johann Ernst Gotzkowsky. The museum celebrates the anniversary of its founding each year on 7 December, Saint Catherine's Day. It has been open to the public since 1852. Wikipedia 

Day 8 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...his last full day in this wonderful city...Highlights of the day include:The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum in Moscow, Russia, dedicated to space exploration. It is located within the base of the Monument to the Conquerors of Space in the north-east of the city. WikipediaVystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva is a permanent general purpose trade show and amusement park in Moscow, Russia. Between 1991 and 2014 it was also called the All-Russia Exhibition Centre. It is a state joint-stock company. WikipediaIvanovsky Convent is a large stauropegic Russian Orthodox convent in central Moscow, inside the Boulevard Ring, to the west of Kitai-gorod, in the district formerly known as Kulishki. It is the main shrine of St. John the Baptist in the Russian capital. Wikipedia                                                   Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Go

Day 7 of Alex’s Moscow adventure...Highlights of the day include...Lenin's Mausoleum, also known as Lenin's Tomb, situated in Red Square in the centre of Moscow, is a mausoleum that currently serves as the resting place of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. His preserved body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924, with rare exceptions in wartime. WikipediaThe Moscow Choral Synagogue is one of the main synagogues in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. It is located in central Basmanny District at 10 Bolshoy Spasogolinischevsky Lane, close to Kitai-Gorod Metro station. Chief Rabbi Adolf Shayevich is its spiritual head. WikipediaNovodevichy Convent, also known as Bogoroditse-Smolensky Monastery, is probably the best-known cloister of Moscow. Its name, sometimes translated as the New Maidens' Monastery, was devised to differ from an ancient maidens' convent within the Moscow Kremlin. Wikipedia                                                   Subscribe, rate and review Travel First

Day 6 of his Moscow adventure..and Alex gets  more history...and a spectacular grocery storeThe State Historical Museum of Russia is a museum of Russian history wedged between Red Square and Manege Square in Moscow. Its exhibitions range from relics of prehistoric tribes that lived on the territory of present-day Russia, through priceless artworks acquired by members of the Romanov dynasty. WikipediaThe Metro Underground Stations tour...details here: For more visit: https://moscowfreetour.com/ The Eliseyevskiy grocery store: http://www.moscow.info/shopping/food/eliseevskiy/                                                     Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www.i

Day 5 of his Moscow adventure..and Alex gets a taste of cold war nostalgiaThe highlight of the day...a visit to Bunker 42The Tangansky Protected Command Point, also known as An-02, FS-293, FS-572, and GO-42, as well as RFQ "Tagan", and now Exhibition Complex Bunker 42, is a once-secret military complex, bunker, and Spare Long-Range Aviation Command Post in Moscow, Russia, near the underground Moscow Metro station Taganskaya. WikipediaFor more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                                                       Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravelGoogle+:      https://plus.google.com/u/2/collection/wi0YaB If you're e

Day 4 of his Moscow adventure...and Alex is off on foot to see the sights.Highlights of the day included:The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a Russian Orthodox cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on the northern bank of the Moskva River, a few hundred metres southwest of the Kremlin. With an overall height of 103 metres, it is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world. WikipediaThe Peter the Great Statue is a 98-metre-high monument to Peter the Great, located at the western confluence of the Moskva River and the Vodootvodny Canal in central Moscow, Russia. It was designed by the Georgian designer Zurab Tsereteli to commemorate 300 years of the Russian Navy, which Peter the Great established. WikipediaFor more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                                                       Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and mo

Alex is back to the Kremlin Precinct for Day 3 of his Moscow adventure..The Kremlin Armoury, is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851 and located in the Moscow Kremlin, now a part of Moscow Kremlin Museums. The Kremlin Armoury originated as the royal arsenal in 1508. WikipediaFor more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                                                       Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravelGoogle+:      https://plus.google.com/u/2/collection/wi0YaB If you're enjoying Travel First, please share and tell your friends. Thank you... #travel #Moscow #Russia #Europe #holiday #podcast #travelfirst #kremlin

Alex ventures out for Day 2 in  Moscow...Day 2 in Moscow - The Kremlin and Red SquareThe Moscow Kremlin, or simply the Kremlin, is a fortified complex at the heart of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River to the south, Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west. WikipediaRed Square is a city square in Moscow, Russia. It separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and now the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. WikipediaFor more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                                                       Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www

Alex is on the road again...this time his trip starts in Moscow..Day 1 in Moscow, Capital of Russia Moscow, on the Moskva River in western Russia, is the nation’s cosmopolitan capital. In its historic core is the Kremlin, a complex that’s home to the president and tsarist treasures in the Armoury. Outside its walls is Red Square, Russia's symbolic center. It's home to Lenin’s Mausoleum, the State Historical Museum's comprehensive collection and St. Basil’s Cathedral, known for its colorful, onion-shaped domes. - Google For more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                                                       Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more.Email: travelfirst@bitesz.comFor more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram:Facebook:  @travelfirstpodcasttwitter:   @biteszHQtravelInstagram:  www.instagram.com/bite

Day 3 in St Petersburg, Russia and even more historic (and beautiful) buildings...  St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works. - Google For more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                         www.petersburgcard.com Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more. Email: travelfirst@bitesz.com For more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram: Facebook: @travelfirstpodcast twitter: @biteszHQtravel Instagram: www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravel Google+: https:

Another chilly, but jam packed day in St Petersburg Russia...Day 2  St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works. - Google For more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                         www.petersburgcard.com Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more. Email: travelfirst@bitesz.com For more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram: Facebook: @travelfirstpodcast twitter: @biteszHQtravel Instagram: www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravel Google+: https://plus.goo

Alex’s travels continue as he moves to St Petersburg,  Russia...Day 1  St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works. - Google For more visit: www.discoveryrussia.com.au                        www.hermitagemuseum.org Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more. Email: travelfirst@bitesz.com For more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+ and Instagram: Facebook: @travelfirstpodcast twitter: @biteszHQtravel Instagram: www.instagram.com/biteszhqtravel Google+: https://plus.google

Day 3 in Helsinki, Finland….and it’s a quick visit to The National Library of Finland  The National Library of Finland is the foremost research library in Finland. Administratively the library is part of the University of Helsinki. Until 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library. - Wikipedia Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor. - Google Maps For more visit: www.kansalliskirjasto.fi/                        www.myhelsinki.fi Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more. Email: travelf

Day 2 in Helsinki, Finland….another sauna and even more culture… Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its capital, Helsinki, occupies a peninsula and surrounding islands in the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is home to the 18th-century sea fortress Suomenlinna, the fashionable Design District and diverse museums. The Northern Lights can be seen from the country's Arctic Lapland province, a vast wilderness with national parks and ski resorts.- Google Maps Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor. - Google Maps For more visit: www.myhelsinki.fi Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerl

Alex travels to Finland in the next stage of his Nordic tour and arrives in Helsinki... Finland is a Northern European nation bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. Its capital, Helsinki, occupies a peninsula and surrounding islands in the Baltic Sea. Helsinki is home to the 18th-century sea fortress Suomenlinna, the fashionable Design District and diverse museums. The Northern Lights can be seen from the country's Arctic Lapland province, a vast wilderness with national parks and ski resorts.- Google Maps Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital, sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central avenue, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum, tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present. Also on Mannerheimintie are the imposing Parliament House and Kiasma, a contemporary art museum. Ornate red-brick Uspenski Cathedral overlooks a harbor. - Google Maps For more visit: www.myhelsinki.fi                        www.loylyhelsinki.fi Subscribe, rate and review Travel

Day 7 in Norway - and Alex spends another day in Bergen, chasing culture and more spectacular views.. Bergen is a city on Norway’s southwestern coast. It's surrounded by mountains and fjords, including Sognefjord, the country’s longest and deepest. Bryggen features colorful wooden houses on the old wharf, once a center of the Hanseatic League's trading empire. The Fløibanen Funicular goes up Fløyen Mountain for panoramic views and hiking trails. For more visit: https://www.visitnorway.com/                        www.visitbergen.com                         www.fjordsafari.com   bergenguide.solveigh@hotmail.com Subscribe, rate and review Travel First at any good podcatcher app, including ApplePodcasts (formerly iTunes) (featured in New & Noteworthy), audioBoom, Stitcher, Pocketcasts, Podbean, CastBox.fm and more. Email: travelfirst@bitesz.com For more, follow Travel First on Facebook, twitter, Google+, and Instagram Facebook: @travelfirstpodcast twitter: @biteszHQtravel Instagram: www.instagram.com/biteszhq