The Hunter's Retreat Video, Valday Hills

I've written about going to the Hunter's Retreat in Valday Hills 1   and Valday Hills 2
Here's the video

The site of the place is here.
Description of hunting activities. 

Serpukhov 2 Hotels, restaurants.

Serpukhov(Serpuhov) is an interesting place to visit for everyone. Here's the post about the churches and attractions of Serpuhov.

However, when it comes to hotels and places to eat, you should probe into the issue beforehand trying to avoid on-the-spot decisions in Serpukhov.

Accommodation.

The option that might look attractive at first sight for frugal tourists is the hotel Iliance (Альянс)  since it's relatively cheap and looks well on-line. It's one of the rare cases when photos give you the impression that  has nothing in common with the reality. A double there is from 1700 = 30 dollars, it's considered to be cheap in Russia.

We always try to go for a cheaper option, however, after we had been shown the rooms

A one-day trip to Tver 1

A one-day trip to Tver was tentative with further trips there we are looking forward to now.

Tver is one of the oldest cities of Russia founded in 1135.  Having been a capital of Russia once, it still creates a vivid impression of a well-preserved town and retains its atmosphere.  The advantageous for a medieval town location on the Volga and Tvertsa and the T'maka Rivers only enhances the now relaxed atmosphere there.

In 1247 Yaroslav Yaroslavich (Yaroslavich is a patronymic), Alexander Nevsky's brother, became the Prince of Vladimir (a then capital of Russia). By moving to Tver he factually moved a capital of Russia from Vladimir to Tver.

Valday 2- the hilly upland of glacier origin between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

Valday, the 1st of May

Valday Hills Part 1 Here: possible accommodation, prices.

As I have already written Valday is an area between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg on the M10 highway.

lunch at Priut Okhotnika (Hunter's Retreat)

Valday 1 - the hilly upland of glacier origin between Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.

Although the distance form Moscow to Saint-Petersburg is only 700 km, the trip from Moscow to Saint-Petersburg by car may take from 10 to 14 hours. All because of horrific traffic jams first in Moscow, then - in Vyshny Volochok, less - in Saint-Petersburg. The highway connecting the two capitals is surprisingly narrow - only three driving lanes.

However, driving along the M 10, the connecting highway, is relatively safe. One can get a better understanding of Russia, enjoy the views and, the last but not the least, visit  the Valday Hills.

Serpukhov 1

Serpukhov   is a town with the population of about 120 thousand people, like most Russian towns, bears the imprint of the country's exuberant history. Monasteries, churches, some museums are all there.

It was founded in 1339 by Ivan Kalita. Since then it has always been the administrative centre of the nearby area. Now it's the centre of Serpukhovsky region(the sub-division of oblast').

The town is situated in the south of Moscovskaya oblast' ( Moscow region, the larger sub-division of the country) so it used to be the military outpost in the time of the Golden Horde. It's history has some relation to the Kulikov battle, the turning point in the history of Russia under the Golden Horde; Boris Godunov's march of 1598 forced to acknowledge  him as the Tsar of Russia in the Tatar influential circles.

After the October Revolution of 1917 the monks were turned out by the Bolsheviks. The Monastery was transferred into the quarters for the Latvian Riflemen.  After 1931 the Monastery was turned into a prison where massive executions were carried out.

Vysotsky Monastery founded in 1374

Last weekend's Saint-Petersburg

Saint-Petersburg, my hometown.

The Dostoyevsky's related sights. 

The area of Sennaya Ploshchad' (Sennaya Square) and Vladimirskiy Prospect are the places densely inhabited by Dostoevsky's characters. He himself rented the apartment where he died near Vladimirskaya underground station. The apartment now houses his memorial museum.  Location of the museum here. 

The supposedly Raskolnikov's house where he plotted the murder is not far from Sennaya Ploshchad' station. Actually, if you start walking from Sennaya Ploshchad' towards Nevsky Prospect along the Griboedov Channel you will see the setting of Dostoevsky's novels.

Nowadays Sennaya Ploshchad is the city centre. However, in the 19th century it was a remote area where working class people or poor intelligentsia settled. The tiny crooked street (pereulok Brinko) adjacent to the square, mentioned in the novel Crime and Punishment,  was inhabited by prostitutes and low working class. Raskolnikov used to go there to feel even worse.

On my way from Sennaya Ploshchad' to Saint-Isaak Cathedral. 

Lions' Bridge (suspension)  over the Griboedov Channel.