Off The Beaten Path | Daniel Joseph Pye
emerged. Since then I haven’t looked back and
have since taken a more active approach on
documenting my subsequent travels.
Before my move to Russia at the beginning
of 2015, I spent some time travelling in
Europe, predominately in Eastern Europe
and also in Latvia where I spent a month
volunteering. My personal style of travel
includes staying in hostels or couch surfing,
whilst the journey itself takes the form of
local transportation or hitch-hiking, with
a tendency to explore the oft forgotten
districts of cities or less popular settlements.
At the same time, I try to find escape where I
can in the tranquillity and serenity that only
nature can provide. What’s more, I genuinely
believe it’s not just the history, architecture,
or cuisine that makes a place memorable,
but more so the people you share it with and
the process of discovery that accompanies it.
These realisations are not ephemeral. Local
perspectives and friends from abroad allow
for the injection of new ideas and the sharing
of personal life stories.
St Petersburg really is the perfect backdrop
for enhancing creative development as it
immerses a blend of distinctive cultural
and artisanal aspirations. It is a vibrant and
engaging city that is constantly building
and shaping itself with an eye towards
the future. The inhabitants generally care
about the development of their city and are
proud to call themselves Peterburgets, or
Peterburgenka, and also proud to be a part
of the Russian Federation. As for me, St
Petersburg appears to be a city of contrasts.
From the black nights of winter to the white
nights of summer; from the extravagant
palaces and manors to the derelict apartment
blocks of yesteryear; from the constant traffic
jams and gloom of industrial districts to the
fresh sea air blowing along the coast, contrast
is everywhere. No doubt when one sets foot
in St Petersburg they immediately begin to
take in the elegant architectural gems and
monuments lining the rivers and canals in the
historical heart of the city and its surrounding
islands. However, how many recall or even
know of the significant amount of lives lost in
the construction of the city from its inception
to today? As I said – a city of contrasts.
I feel that some of my best inspiration for
writing has come when out exploring nature
or when I’m away from the commotion of
large cities. A perfect example of this was on
my most recent trip to Vladimir, Suzdal and
Bogolyubovo, which I was fortunate to have
shared with my partner. Having someone
special who also possessed local knowledge
of the region to share the experience with
was a nice added bonus. In Suzdal, I found
solace and sheer bliss. The leafy streets were
lined with charming wooden houses and
the treasure trove of monasteries, cathedrals,
historic buildings and quaint spots along
the river made for a truly unique experience.
Thankfully, during my time there I did not
come across any monolithic apartment towers
or dreary grey factories. It felt like we went
Issue 4, 2016 | The Travellist
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