Paper Trails

ST. ISAAC’S CATHEDRAL

Who: Mike and Joyce Bundgaard, of Denver

Where: St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and the fourth-largest cathedral in the world. Opened in 1858, the cathedral is dedicated to St. Isaac of Dalmatia, a patron of Peter the Great.

Best meal: Kotletki patties at the Idiot Restaurant in St. Petersburg. While eating your kotletki patties made of broccoli, brussel sprouts and cauliflower and served with pickled cabbage and carrots, you can enjoy a complimentary shot of vodka. This laidback cafe is filled with antiques, Soviet relics and lots of books, including

several translations of “The Idiot,” Dostoyevsky’s world-renowned novel about a man who was too nice.

Best deal: Rent a small canal boat for two hours and get a great tour of this beautiful city.

Best time to go: The weather is pleasant in May, and the crowds have not swelled. It is great time to meet the friendly locals and ask them what they really think of Putin.

Best travel tip: Overseas Adventure Travel offers a trip through the Baltics — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — that end in Saint Petersburg. The two-week trip adequately and compassionately covers the tragic history and present optimism of the people who call that part of the world home.

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