Saturday 17 November 2012

Eating and Drinking in Eastern Europe

When I'm travelling I'm constantly taking pictures of what I'm eating. When my meal is put in front of me my first instinct is always that I want to remember it. Now I'm home, I cook most nights for my family and I'm really enjoying being able to cook again; my kitchen in Korea was so tiny and it was difficult going shopping as a lot of ingredients either weren't available, or were really expensive. 

I've really enjoyed putting this post together, and remembering all the wonderful food I ate while making my way home through Europe. Looking at these pictures, I am transported to the city I was in, the moment Mary and I had sat down to eat, and usually took in our surroundings to people watch and just enjoy the limited time we had to experience each place. Food in Eastern Europe was really good, and generally pretty cheap, and for me so fantastic to get back to European flavours and dishes. Definitely a gastronomic good time!

Prawn Tacos. Warsaw, Poland.

Breakfast Omelette. Kiev, Ukraine. 

Hot Chocolate in Russia is so amazingly thick you need a spoon to eat it!

Bread and Dips at Pinchuk Art Gallery. Kiev, Ukraine.

Cheesy, Buttery, Georgian Bread. Moscow, Russia.

AhMAzing Almond Macaroons. Kiev, Ukraine.

Ice Cream in the City Square. Warsaw, Poland.

Meat dumplings with dill. St Petersburg, Russia.

Grilled Fish. St Petersburg, Russia.

Beef Ribs. Warsaw, Poland.

The Best Drink I've ever had; Non-Alcoholic Strawberry Mojito. @Pinchuk Art Gallery, Kiev, Ukraine.


Sushi Takeout. St Petersburg, Russia.

Our entire hoard at the Hot Chocolate Cafe. Kiev, Ukraine.

Smoked Salmon Bagel. Warsaw, Poland.

Chicken Pancake, Potato Rosti and meringue. A breakfast of Champions in St Petersburg, Russia,

Simply Delicious, Even if I don't remember what this dessert was... Pinchuk Art Gallery, Kiev, Ukraine.

Pear Soda. St Petersburg, Russia.


Mexican Fare at Frida's. Warsaw, Poland.

Some more lush Georgian Bread. St Petersburg, Russia.

Orange Hot Chocolate. Kiev, Ukraine.

Cheesecake and Iced Tea. Warsaw, Poland.

Russian Tea. St Petersburg, Russia.

Radioactive looking Apple Juice. Kiev, Ukraine.

Cheese Toastie and Tea. Warsaw, Poland.

Garlicy Chicken Kiev. St Petersburg, Russia.

This way home! Warsaw, Poland.

Saturday 10 November 2012

A night cruise on the Neva

I had read that a great way to see all the sights in St Petersburg was by boat, as the buildings were designed to be approached by the river. We'd just missed the white nights tours, but decided to still take a tour by night and see all the buildings lit up. Although it was cold and damp, we stayed up until 1am for the beginning of our tour. Unfortunately we had to share our boat with three drunken louts. It was a reminder of annoying idiots from back home, something I'd been away from for two years. At first they weren't bothering us too much, just swigging from their pre-mixed bottle on the back of the boat. Then I caught a glimpse of one urinating off the side. Disgusting, but still not bothering anyone but his mate who likely got splashed as the boat sped along. Finally they came over and started harassing us. Annoyingly they kept talking to us in Russian and then telling us they couldn't speak English. That's ok mate, now bugger off and leave me alone. They didn't, even whilst we ignored them. We waited until the boat made it to the sparkling TV tower and turned to make it's way back to shore, and then we got up and went inside the boat. Thankfully they didn't try and talk to us again, although one decided to try and hang off the side. Unfortunately he didn't fall in. The tour was nice, even though it was cold, late at night and a bit longer than it needed to be. Regrettably the drunken halfwits really didn't make it worth it for me. And to top it all off, we didn't agree a fare before getting into the cab and again got stung by the St Petersburg taxi drivers. Please take my advice if you're ever in the city AGREE A PRICE BEFORE YOU GET IN!! 

Here are a few of the decent pictures I took, mainly from the beginning of the tour.




Watching one of the many bridges opening




The Winter Palace


St Peter and St Paul Fortress

The Aurora, where the first shot was first for the October Revolution.

As soon as I'd taken this picture we ducked inside away from the Drunkards.