Pushkin's Secret: Uncovering the Lost History of Friedental, Russia
Pushkin's Secret: Friedental's Hidden Heart, a Review (and a Few Rants)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Friedental, Russia, and "Pushkin's Secret: Uncovering the Lost History" – and let me tell you, it's… an experience. Forget your perfectly curated Instagram feeds, this place is real. Think less "polished resort," more "charming time capsule with Wi-Fi." And yes, before you ask, the Wi-Fi is actually decent. (Thank God, because lord knows I need my internet to vent.)
Accessibility & Safety (and the Anxiety That Comes with It):
Okay, let's dive right into the nuts and bolts. Accessibility is… well, let’s call it “evolving.” There’s an elevator, which is a massive win. But navigating the older parts of the property, which are undoubtedly the most charming, might be a bit of a squeeze for wheelchairs. They do have facilities for disabled guests, but it's probably best to call ahead and confirm specifics.
Now, the really important part: Safety. They’re taking it seriously. I saw CCTV in common areas and outside the property. There were fire extinguishers galore (a good sign) and smoke alarms in the rooms. They even had a doctor/nurse on call, which, after that questionable plate of pelmeni (more on that later), was reassuring.
Here's where things get interesting. Remember that whole COVID thing? Pushkin's Secret clearly took the pandemic seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, and rooms sanitized between stays are all great. Plus, the staff, bless their hearts, were relentlessly polite about wearing masks. They had hand sanitizer everywhere, and the whole "social distancing" thing… well, they tried. But hey, you can only push back against Russian hospitality for so long, right?
They're also going for the "Cashless payment service", which makes things easier. And, get this, they've even gone the distance to achieve Hygiene certification. Which is a relief considering the culinary adventures that might come your way.
And did I mention Room sanitization opt-out available?! I didn’t because I’m pretty sure that’s a lie and they don't do it, but hey, at least they provide the option.
Things to Do (and Getting Away With It):
Okay, so you flew all the way to Friedental… what do you do? Well, that depends on your comfort level with potentially awkward situations.
Relaxing:
Spa? Yes. A genuine spa.
Sauna? Absolutely. Get your sweat on.
Steamroom? You bet! But, fair warning: bring your own robes. You’ll need them. I found the whole setup a little… utilitarian. The massage I got was pretty good, though! (Well, after I clarified I wanted a relaxing massage, and not, you know, a Russian wrestling match.) A pool with a view? Nope. But a regular ol' swimming pool? You bet. This ain’t a place to get your Instagram on; this is a place to… exist.
Poolside bar? Nope. Not that the whole place is about "poolside" anything.
Fitness centre? Oh, yes. A gym!
Body scrub and Body wrap available.
Foot bath, I'd assume, yes!
Things to note: The pool is outdoor and seasonal. The spa is not luxurious, but perfectly functional. And that steamroom might need an upgrade.
Dining, Drinking and Snacking
- The restaurants offer:
- Western & Asian Breakfast
- A Buffet!
- A la carte in restaurant
- Asian cuisine in restaurant
- International cuisine in restaurant
- Desserts in restaurant
- Salad in restaurant
- Soup in restaurant
- Vegetarian restaurant
- Bars: There is a Bar that is pretty lovely.
- Snacks and drinks: There is a Snack bar and Coffee shop.
- Room service? Yes.
- Happy Hour? If you have the right kind of attitude, any hour is happy hour.
I had a particularly memorable meal at the main restaurant. The buffet was… adventurous. The salads looked, shall we say, rustic. The soup was… well, it tasted like soup. But, the coffee/tea in restaurant was good, and they had a lovely selection of cakes. And let me tell you: that bottle of water was a lifeline, especially after that suspicious pelmeni.
- The restaurants offer:
Rooms (The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Moldy):
Let's be honest: you're not coming here for the luxury. You're coming for the experience. Still, the rooms are… adequate.
Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning – Thank God, because it gets hot in Friedental!
- Alarm clock – Pretty useful for those early morning excursions.
- Bathrobes – Score!
- Bathrooms phone – Useful or creepy? You decide.
- Bathtub– A welcome addition.
- Blackout curtains - Essential for a good night's sleep.
- Carpeting - Well, it's there.
- Closet - Definitely need that.
- Coffee/tea maker - Essential!
- Complimentary tea - Nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping – They keep things tidy.
- Desk – For your laptop workspace as mentioned above.
- Extra long bed – Always a bonus.
- Free bottled water – See my pelmeni rant.
- Hair dryer – Definitely a necessity.
- High floor – Not sure, but hope you get one!
- In-room safe box – Peace of mind.
- Internet access – LAN & Internet access – wireless
- Ironing facilities – Wrinkles are the enemy of charm.
- Laptop workspace – So you can work, even here.
- Linens – Clean, thankfully.
- Mini bar – Stocked with… well, you’ll find out.
- Mirror – For self-assessment.
- Non-smoking – Thank goodness.
- On-demand movies – If you're into that.
- Private bathroom – Always a plus.
- Reading light – For delving into Pushkin.
- Refrigerator – Keeps the mini-bar cold.
- Safety/security feature – Always important.
- Satellite/cable channels – For your viewing pleasure.
- Scale – Depends on your attitude.
- Seating area – Somewhere to sit and contemplate life.
- Separate shower/bathtub – Luxury!
- Shower – Essential.
- Slippers – Comfy.
- Smoke detector – Again, reassuring.
- Socket near the bed – A modern necessity.
- Sofa – if you are lucky.
- Soundproofing – I wish.
- Telephone – For when the Wi-Fi is down.
- Toiletries – Unremarkable.
- Towels – Fluffy enough.
- Umbrella – A must-have.
- Visual alarm – Very useful.
- Wake-up service – Sometimes needed after a long day of… experiencing Friedental.
- Wi-Fi [free] – A blessing.
- Window that opens – Fresh air.
There are some non-smoking rooms, which is good. The interconnecting room(s) available might be great if you have kids. Some rooms have room decorations, which is a nice touch; however, don't expect cutting-edge interior design.
Services & Conveniences (The Surprisingly Helpful):
Pushkin's Secret actually offers a surprising number of services.
- Essentials:
- Air conditioning in public area – Smart.
- Breakfast in room – Convenient.
- Breakfast takeaway service – Useful.
- Cash withdrawal – Helpful service.
- Concierge – A lifesaver.
- **
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your average travel itinerary. This is… well, this is my Friedental Pushkin, Russia, adventure, and trust me, it’s gonna be a bumpy, beautiful, and probably slightly caffeinated ride. I'm talking messy, honest, hilarious and occasionally near-panic level of human-ness. Here we go…
Friedental Pushkin: A Messy Memoir (and Attempted Itinerary)
Day 1: Arrival, Architectural Awkwardness, and That Damn Train
6:00 AM (ish) - Wake up in a Glitch: My alarm? It’s a suggestion. Really, it's more of a passive-aggressive whine until I concede and stagger out of bed. That's step one!
7:00 AM (plus or minus a coffee emergency) - Board the Flying Metal Bird: Flight… Ugh, the airport. Let's just say I'm that person holding up the security line because I "forgot" my tiny travel-sized shampoo. And my passport? Always a delightful moment of panic finding it. Luckily, I did find it.
13:00 (ish) - Arrival in St. Petersburg (and the Dreaded Train): Okay, so technically I'm flying into St. Petersburg. But the real adventure begins with getting to Pushkin. The train… Oh, the train. The brochure promised "charming," I got "slightly dilapidated, but with a surprisingly cozy babushka." But hey, the view, when I could see it through the fogged-up windows, was kinda stunning. I’m pretty sure I saw a moose. Maybe. Coffee deprivation is a real thing people!
14:00 (give or take a wrong turn and a minor existential crisis) - Pushkin – Finally: Finally! Arrived, and the first thing that hits me is… a church. A gorgeous, gold-domed, totally-not-prepared-for-being-this-beautiful church. But the street? A bit of a letdown. See, I was expecting czarist glamour, but it's a bit… Soviet. A bit meh. Okay, a lot meh. But hold on to your hats, because I've heard the Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar's Villages) is going to be where it’s at. So. Much. History.
15:00 (ish): Palaces, Park, and My Bladder's Rebellion: Catherine Palace! I'm talking gold leaf, mirrors, ridiculously ornate everything. It's like a disco ball exploded, and then… they decided to build a palace around the sparkly aftermath. The Amber Room? Still freakin' gorgeous. I kept thinking "how do they even keep this clean?" Then I got really hungry, followed by an abrupt, and quite insistent request from my bladder. The sheer size of the gardens meant I nearly didn't find a bathroom in time. Seriously, this palace is massive!
18:00 (and a desperate search for decent coffee): Back to my hostel. Did I mention hostels? I haven't slept in a hostel since the early 2000s, and I'm already regretting it. I also need coffee. Desperately. My room-mate is currently snoring, and I'm pretty sure the walls are paper-thin. Food? I'm pretty sure there's a dingy place that sells pierogi nearby. That'll have to do.
Day 2: The Pushkin Push and the Pavlovsk Pursuit
9:00 AM (ish) - The Big Pushkin Push: Today: a full on assault on Pushkin. We're talking the Alexander Palace (where the last Tsars lived… Cue inner drama! More importantly: the gardens! We must make sure we get lunch and visit the gardens! Oh and the Alexander Park! I'm expecting at least one romantic stroll. And…a good photo. Maybe a selfie?
12:00 (ish) - Lunchtime and the Eternal Search for Schnitzel: Okay, Pushkin, you're testing me. Finding a decent restaurant is proving harder than, oh, I don't know, ruling an empire. I finally stumble upon a place smelling suspiciously of fried food. Schnitzel it is.
14:00 PM (ish) Pavlovsk Palace: Now, Pavlovsk Palace! This one's built for romance, it's a bit less dazzling than Catherine Palace, but the grounds? Epic. I'm talkin' sprawling lawns, and the smell of fresh cut grass. It's idyllic. I could almost imagine myself living here, until my stomach growled and reminded me I hadn't eaten in three hours. Also, those Russian ladies gossiping in the corner of the park? Total entertainment.
17:00 PM (ish) - Post-palace Meltdown & Vodka-Induced Enthusiasm: Okay, I’m tired. I've walked approximately a million miles, my feet are screaming and all I can find is shops selling souvenir nesting dolls. But the vodka? Oh, the vodka. I might have decided to drink some. And, suddenly, everything is bright and cheerful. The streetlamps shine like golden beacons, and babushkas are all my friends. This is gonna get interesting.
Day 3: The Road Home (Hopefully):
9:00 AM (ish) - The Hangover of Empires: Ouch. Big ouch. That vodka was a mistake.
10:00 AM: Find Coffee. Survive. I needed coffee like air. The hostel? No coffee. The street? No coffee. I swear I became a walking, talking coffee-seeking missile.
12:00 AM: The Farewell Feast and the Train…Again: Okay, I think I've done the essential Pushkin stuff. One last delicious pelmeni feast and then… the train again. I think I've made a friend, a sweet old lady, who gave me a huge helping of her homemade pickles. (She also warned me about the "terrible tourist things" in the city. I am now very nervous.)
15:00: St. Petersburg, Farewell. I'm leaving Russia. This city is not for the faint of heart.
Evening: The Flight Home (Fingers Crossed): I'm tired. I'm full of memories. And I'm pretty sure I'll be dreaming of gold leaf and babushkas for weeks to come.
Postscript:
This "itinerary" is more of a suggestion, a whisper of what might happen. It's a testament to the fact that travel isn't always perfect, and sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones you didn't plan. And trust me, I've got a lot of those. So here's to the messy, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable adventure that is life, and the even more unpredictable adventure that is travelling in Russia. I definitely recommend it, but prepare for a whirlwind.
Paducah Getaway: Unwind at the Hampton Inn & Suites!
Pushkin's Secret: Friedental's Lost History - Your Brain Feels Like Mine After This!
Okay, so, Friedental. Where *is* this magical place even? Does it even *exist*? (And let's be honest, is it actually filled with lost gold?)
Why "Pushkin's Secret"? Is the great poet Pushkin connected to this forgotten village somehow? Did he write secret poems about… well, whatever was happening there?
Who *were* the Friedentalers? I picture them as, like, tiny people riding giant squirrels. Am I close?
What's the best way to get to Friedental? Do I need a passport to the past? Asking for a friend (who is me).
What can I *expect* to find there? Just… ruins, right? Or is there more? Like, a magical portal? (I'm still holding out hope.)
Did you find any… ghosts? I'm not admitting to being a believer, *but*…
What was the *hardest* part of the trip? I need to calibrate my expectations.
Was it worth it? All the hassle, the cold, the ghosts (maybe)?
