Because Petersburg was built according to the plans
of European architects, it lacks that good ol'
Russian country feel that even the flamboyant Church
of the Bleeding Savior can't provide. For a taste of
authentic old Russia take a trip to Novgorod. Just
less than three hours away by car (four by bus,
longer by train, and much quicker by helicopter),
Novgorod was the place to be until 1478 when it
joined the centralized Russian state led by Ivan III
of Moscow (grandfather of Ivan the Terrible). Much of
old Novgorod still survives and can be seen in a day
or two of church-hopping, though it is easy to spend
more time here. Not only is Novgorod a pleasant town
but also a good stepping stone for trips to Staraya
Russa, an old Dostoevsky haunt, and Pskov, plus
excursions into the surrounding environs make for
good boating, fishing, or being eaten by bears.
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