Soft Skills 2021
May Holidays: Where to go to Experience Nature in the City
The May holidays are approaching. A few days when everything comes together — good weather and a break from studying and work. I always want to get as much out of these days as possible. To gain strength for the last push of study in this semester, to breathe in that warmth of May days, to enjoy nature. Many people leave the city, but what can you do if you don't have a summer house? How do you spend those days in the city?
St. Petersburg is a very diverse city, where you can find both very urban entertainment and find yourself in the middle of blooming nature in the center of the city. I was born and have lived in St. Petersburg all my life. Sometimes I feel like I know every nook and cranny of this city and nothing can surprise me. But there are places I always enjoy returning to. And because I associate the May holidays more with nature, I would like to share with you the places where nature makes my heart beat faster.
I would like to start with the Chinese friendship garden on Liteyny 15. This place doesn't look as good now as it did when I was a kid. However, I love going back there, especially in May. There are many fascinating things in this place — the wall of nine dragons, the friendship pagoda, a stone bridge over a small pond. But the most important thing that makes me return there again and again is the sakura blossoms. The sakura begins to bloom in early May with the arrival of warmth. I love this place so much that I even made a video about it for my course at the university.
The next place is the Tauride Garden. If you are thinking about how to spend a sunny day in St. Petersburg, make sure to have a picnic there. For me, this garden is a reflection of the St. Petersburg spirit. Giant trees that whisper their secrets in the wind, curious landscapes, leisurely strollers and people hurrying through the park to the subway. I am always very pleased to return to the greenery of the Tauride Garden. And if you want to see even more interesting plants, you can always go to the greenhouse of the Tauride Garden where many exotic plants grow, these include peaches, watermelons, apricots, and pineapples.
Another place of power in St. Petersburg is the Gulf of Finland. There are many places where you can walk or have a picnic near the Gulf. In the city, many people like the Tricentennial Park near Begovaya metro station. There is another way to get to the Gulf of Finland. You can take a train from Finland Station and go to the countryside. As a stop, you can choose Tarkhovka, Razliv, Solnechnoye, Repino or many others. The trip time is less than an hour, and you'll find yourself in the beautiful suburbs, where there is a lot of greenery and lovely beaches. You can go there with friends, have a picnic, play outdoor games, or go alone with a book, but most importantly, you can completely relax from the city buzz.
I have introduced you to three of my favorite places. These places always help me slow down and think about life. I absolutely love going back to these places year after year, and I hope that among these places something will resonate in your heart as well.
Written by Anastasiia Zyrianova