Welcome to St.
Petersburg, Russia!
Petersburg, Russia!
The gorgeous Hermitage Art Museum, inside
of the Winter Palace, is one of St.
Petersburg's most famous places.
Below: Beef Stroganaoff
of the Winter Palace, is one of St.
Petersburg's most famous places.
Below: Beef Stroganaoff
The famous Church of the Spilled Blood,
pictured above, was built between 1883 and
1907.
Below is the famous "Wedding Cake"
Church, which looks almost too good to be
true!
pictured above, was built between 1883 and
1907.
Below is the famous "Wedding Cake"
Church, which looks almost too good to be
true!
My family visited Russia in 2001, right after I graduated from college.
We boarded a plane and flew into another country, and then got on a
ship and sailed through the Baltic Sea to get to St. Petersburg,
Russia.
When we arrived, we had absolutely no idea what to expect. Luckily,
we had a tour guide to take us around. Our guide's name was
Tatiana, and she was a teacher in a Russian school. Because it was
summertime, Tatiana had time to give tours of her beautiful country.
It was also a good way for her to earn money during the summer.
Tatiana was full of knowledge and couldn't wait to show us some of
the spectacular sights of St. Petersburg.
The first place that Tatiana took us to was the incredible Hermitage
Art Museum. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened
next. When we drove up, I could not believe my eyes! We were
standing in front of the most beautiful castle I had ever seen! Tatiana
informed us that we had arrived at the Winter Palace. "Wait a
second," I thought, "Didn't she say we were going to a museum?" In
America, our museums are large buildings. In Russia, certain
museums are old palaces! The Hermitage Museum is famous
because there are over two million amazing items to see inside the
beautiful palace. They've got everything from paintings by Leonardo
da Vinci to artwork from ancient Egypt!
When people tour Russia, one of the most breathtaking sights to see
are the Russian churches. Even in America, places of worship are
usually beautiful buildings. However, in Russia, they have a special
way of building their churches. Their style of architecture, or building,
is quite incredible. People come from all over the world to see the
amazing buildings. The Church of the Spilled Blood is one of the
more famous buildings in St. Petersburg. It was built many years
ago, between 1883 and 1907. People often wonder how it got its
strange name. The church was named after an important Russian
Tsar who was wounded on the land where the church now stands.
Another famous church is referred to as the "Wedding Cake" church.
Can you guess why? With its pink and white decorations, it looks
almost like a delicious dessert! This beautiful building was
constructed from 1774 - 1777. Its real name is the Chesma Church.
No matter what religion you celebrate, anyone can appreciate the
amazing beauty of the Russian churches.
By that time, we were starving! Tatiana took us to a small restaurant
called Kalinka. It was named after a very famous Russian folk song
called Kalinka-Malinka. The song is all about loving nature and
appreciating beauty. We all ordered Beef Stroganoff, which is a
delicious traditional Russian meal. It was time to get back on the ship
and so, sadly, we said goodbye to Tatiana. Although our day ended,
we made a special new friend. Tatianta even taught us how to write
and say the word friend:
Друг (pronounced drew-g)
Even today, my mom and Tatiana still email. Tatiana is doing well
and her daughter is just about to graduate from college. I wonder if
they will ever need a tour of America! If they do, I can think of some
wonderful places to take them!
We boarded a plane and flew into another country, and then got on a
ship and sailed through the Baltic Sea to get to St. Petersburg,
Russia.
When we arrived, we had absolutely no idea what to expect. Luckily,
we had a tour guide to take us around. Our guide's name was
Tatiana, and she was a teacher in a Russian school. Because it was
summertime, Tatiana had time to give tours of her beautiful country.
It was also a good way for her to earn money during the summer.
Tatiana was full of knowledge and couldn't wait to show us some of
the spectacular sights of St. Petersburg.
The first place that Tatiana took us to was the incredible Hermitage
Art Museum. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened
next. When we drove up, I could not believe my eyes! We were
standing in front of the most beautiful castle I had ever seen! Tatiana
informed us that we had arrived at the Winter Palace. "Wait a
second," I thought, "Didn't she say we were going to a museum?" In
America, our museums are large buildings. In Russia, certain
museums are old palaces! The Hermitage Museum is famous
because there are over two million amazing items to see inside the
beautiful palace. They've got everything from paintings by Leonardo
da Vinci to artwork from ancient Egypt!
When people tour Russia, one of the most breathtaking sights to see
are the Russian churches. Even in America, places of worship are
usually beautiful buildings. However, in Russia, they have a special
way of building their churches. Their style of architecture, or building,
is quite incredible. People come from all over the world to see the
amazing buildings. The Church of the Spilled Blood is one of the
more famous buildings in St. Petersburg. It was built many years
ago, between 1883 and 1907. People often wonder how it got its
strange name. The church was named after an important Russian
Tsar who was wounded on the land where the church now stands.
Another famous church is referred to as the "Wedding Cake" church.
Can you guess why? With its pink and white decorations, it looks
almost like a delicious dessert! This beautiful building was
constructed from 1774 - 1777. Its real name is the Chesma Church.
No matter what religion you celebrate, anyone can appreciate the
amazing beauty of the Russian churches.
By that time, we were starving! Tatiana took us to a small restaurant
called Kalinka. It was named after a very famous Russian folk song
called Kalinka-Malinka. The song is all about loving nature and
appreciating beauty. We all ordered Beef Stroganoff, which is a
delicious traditional Russian meal. It was time to get back on the ship
and so, sadly, we said goodbye to Tatiana. Although our day ended,
we made a special new friend. Tatianta even taught us how to write
and say the word friend:
Друг (pronounced drew-g)
Even today, my mom and Tatiana still email. Tatiana is doing well
and her daughter is just about to graduate from college. I wonder if
they will ever need a tour of America! If they do, I can think of some
wonderful places to take them!
To see a video clip of Russian
dancers performing
Kalinka-Malinka, click HERE.
Have a parent help you to scroll
down the page until you see the
word "Kalinka". Click and enjoy!
**Parents, when I previewed the clip, it was
perfectly appropriate...you might want to
check for yourselves first, as it links you to
google video.
dancers performing
Kalinka-Malinka, click HERE.
Have a parent help you to scroll
down the page until you see the
word "Kalinka". Click and enjoy!
**Parents, when I previewed the clip, it was
perfectly appropriate...you might want to
check for yourselves first, as it links you to
google video.
1. How did the author's family get to Russia?
a. They took a plane, then they sailed in a ship.
b. They took a ship.
c. They took a plane.
2. The first thing they did in St. Petersburg was:
a. They met their tour guide, Tatiana
b. They saw the Hermitage Art Museum
c. They ate Beef Stroganoff
3. When the family arrived at the museum, the author was confused because:
a. The tour guide had taken them to a palace
b. The museum was closed
c. No one spoke English
4. A Russian Tsar is probably most similar to:
a. The president
b. A lawyer
c. A dancer
5. The name of the restaurant that the author went to is the same as:
a. A Russian meal
b. A Russian costume
c. A Russian song
6. Read this sentence from the story.
Beef Stroganoff is a delicious traditional Russian meal.
The word traditional probably means:
a. happy
b. typical
c. vegetarian
7. Re-read the sentence below:
Beef Stroganoff is a delicious traditional Russian meal.
Is it a fact or opinion?
a. Fact
b. Opinion
8. The Chesma Church is compared to a:
a. Cupcake
b. Princess Castle
c. Wedding Cake
9. What was the effect of Tatiana not teaching at school over the summer?
a. Because she was not teaching, she could go on vacation.
b. Because she was not teaching, she could give tours and make money.
c. Because she was not teaching, she went to the Hermitage Museum every day.
10. What is the main idea of paragraph four?
a. Anyone can enjoy the Russian Churches, no matter what religion they are.
b. The Hermitage museum is a palace and an art museum in one!
c. Our tour guide became a friend by the end of the trip.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS...GOOD LUCK
a. They took a plane, then they sailed in a ship.
b. They took a ship.
c. They took a plane.
2. The first thing they did in St. Petersburg was:
a. They met their tour guide, Tatiana
b. They saw the Hermitage Art Museum
c. They ate Beef Stroganoff
3. When the family arrived at the museum, the author was confused because:
a. The tour guide had taken them to a palace
b. The museum was closed
c. No one spoke English
4. A Russian Tsar is probably most similar to:
a. The president
b. A lawyer
c. A dancer
5. The name of the restaurant that the author went to is the same as:
a. A Russian meal
b. A Russian costume
c. A Russian song
6. Read this sentence from the story.
Beef Stroganoff is a delicious traditional Russian meal.
The word traditional probably means:
a. happy
b. typical
c. vegetarian
7. Re-read the sentence below:
Beef Stroganoff is a delicious traditional Russian meal.
Is it a fact or opinion?
a. Fact
b. Opinion
8. The Chesma Church is compared to a:
a. Cupcake
b. Princess Castle
c. Wedding Cake
9. What was the effect of Tatiana not teaching at school over the summer?
a. Because she was not teaching, she could go on vacation.
b. Because she was not teaching, she could give tours and make money.
c. Because she was not teaching, she went to the Hermitage Museum every day.
10. What is the main idea of paragraph four?
a. Anyone can enjoy the Russian Churches, no matter what religion they are.
b. The Hermitage museum is a palace and an art museum in one!
c. Our tour guide became a friend by the end of the trip.
SCROLL DOWN FOR ANSWERS...GOOD LUCK
1. a
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. b
10. a
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. b
10. a
Welcome To...
Russia
World Tour:
To go back to Harbin in China, click
HERE!
To go back to Harbin in China, click
HERE!
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