SUMMER OF 2018, FIFA WORLD CUP 2018, 14 DAYS TRIP TO RUSSIA WITH CITIES INCLUDING ST. PETERSBURG AND MOSCOW

So this all started around end of 2017 when FIFA published an statement saying "TICKETS FOR WC-2018 ARE OUT". I quickly rang 2 of my best friends to ask if they wanna join me for the trip to Russia in Summer 2018. Thankfully, both of them were as excited with the news as i was, so we all decided to apply for the tickets together.
Luckly, we got our tickets for a group match :: ENGLAND VS BELGIUM. And the best part was, i am an england fan, so getting to see england play on the world cup stage was amazing.
Plannings began from hostels bookin, bus tickets to flight and finally the day arrived when we had to leave for Kaliningrad, where the match was played, from Berlin.

We travelled to Kaliningrad via. Gadansk, Poland through bus because that was the cheapest way. 4 hours very well spent in Gadansk. The city wasnt massive but people seem to be so generous and kind. I especially loved that on water restaurant which had a theme of PIRATE

The toughest part of the whole trip was getting inside Russia. They had numerious check point for ID verifications, Visa check ... we wished, we hadnt come (Thankfully we did!!!)
After all the hustle we made, we finally arrived in Kaliningrad. I must honestly admit, the russians there were crazly welcoming. People even came personally to us to shake hands and were thankful to us for visiting their city. That was preety gud warm reception you can have while trevelling, right???
Lets not make it too long. Directly to the point. MATCH DAY : ENGLAND VS BELGIUM. I was absolutely buzzing. The mood was so fucking crazy there in the city centre. We went to the FIFA FAN FEST as well just to have a look how the atmosphere is like. I took a picture with a Cheer leader about which my girlfriend was preety mad on me. Babe, its just a picture. Come on!!!

England and Belgium fans at two different pub singing, chanting and supporting their team. Honestly speaking, Belgium fans absolutely outclassed england fan when it came to showing the presence, england fans were outnumbered. I however enjoyed every bit of the atmosphere there. I even waited at the hotel where england sqad stayed the night before just to have glimpse of HOLY HARRY KANE. Preety sad, had to left for the stadium early.

OMGGGGGGGG!!!!! The mood inside the stadium was electrifying. You could hear fans singing and chanting and supportin their team. You could even play FIFA in a PLAY STATION inside the stadium, can you believe it? There were dance organized, sovuniers shop ever where. But neglecting everything, we just went to grab cans of HOLY BEER.

Final whistle. Belgium 1-0 England. I was singing like a mad when a russian fan asked me "You do realise, your team just lost the game, right?". I replied "Who cares mate, we shall now me avoiding BRAZIL in the next round". Always remain positive!!!
One more day in Kaliningrad where we did some sight seeing and realised how much hosting the WORLD CUP has changed the city, structurally and economically. I just wanna give a quick shout to the LONDON PUB in Kaliningrad, very good food at very very very affordable price.

I already predicted FRANCE to win the WC 2018 lol

The day when we finally had to leave Kaliningrad for St. Petersburg. A 3-day stay will always remain in my memory. We had no other matches to see. So visit to Petersburg and Moscow was purely just to watch the cities. Off course, football is always there when WC is there.

Honestly, first 2 days in Petersburg sucked. The weather was terrible and it was raining like almost whole day. Who wanna go outside while its raining, right?
Thankfully the weather cleared the remaining 4 days and we were able to see the city properly. A traveller trip: Discover Petersburg on foot. Its more beautiful that you can see on Youtube and all. Especially the likes of Nevsky Prospect (busiest city i guess), Kazan cathredal, Hermitage (worlds 2nd biggest museum. We went on the day when the ticket was free. People generally line on queqe typically from 3-4 hours on the free day. We didnt. Just went upfront and pretented to have been staying on the line since long. I had a discussion with one guy too. Thankfully we made it lol). You can have a wonderful boat trip on the canel of Petersburg at mid night where you get to see the bridges opening. That was breath- taking. That one single day, we almost walk like 10 hours. No bus, no car, no taxi, no bicycle, nothing. Just legs and the walk was worth.

ARMY ATTACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

Infront of HERMITAGE

Hermitage Garden

Inside Hermitage

REAL MUMMY UNWRAPPED





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We had lots of russian foods at different restaurant. I found a georgian Restaurant very impressive with very good service at affordable price.

Overall, St. Petersburg had fulfilled all its expectations and even delivered more than we actually thought. There are videos i wanted to share but unfortunately cant. Beauty of this cant be captured. We realize it when you in reality confront it. I would definetely suggest to visit the city once. No wonder why they call it the VENICE OF NORTH.
Our final destination was Moscow. Till our departure to moscow, it was almost the semi-final time i guess. Or might just be the Quarters.
Anyway, the capital city always delivers, doesnt it? And the case here wasnt any different too. The FIFA FAN FEST at Mosocw when Russia Played against Croatia was the craziest. We left the FAN PARK early thinking, russia now lost the game after 2-1 lead for Croatia. It was until when the public inside the bus we were travelling cheered for the equalizing goal. Craziest part was, there was just a single restaurant open at that time at the palce near the bus stop and Russia were onto the penalty shoot out. Every bus that stopped there, the passanger would run and come to see the shooot out. After like 5 minutes the place was so crowded, police had to be deployed. Unfortunately, Russia lost, but went out of the tournament doing their country proud. England too were knocked out of the tournament at semis and we departed to Berlin just 2 days ahead of the big match THE FINAL.

Match ahead of semifinal: England vs Croatia

FIFA MUSEUM IN MOSCOW :
THE HOLY CUP

THE JULIUS REMIT CUP (Previous WORLD CUP TROUGHY)

At this point of time, as you can see, i have now lifted more Worldcups than MESSI AND RONALDO combined.

OFFICIAL MATCH BALL FOR THE GAME ENGLAND VS BELGIUM:

ZINADINE ZIDANE´s WORLD CUP BOOT 1998:

To sum it up, Summer 2018 in Russia was a great success. I had a seen my childhoods dream come true watchin a WC match. Met lots of people, had lot of fun and main thing ENJOYED A LOT.
I would definetely suggest you to visit the country once.People are very nice and welcoming. I dont even speak a word russian and everything went so fluenlty without a problem.
I hope you guys like my content. If you want to ask anything related to these cities, you may let me know in the comment. I really hope, you make Russia as your next travel destination and if you are a football fan, i hope you make it to QATAR next time.
Have a nice day guys. Stay humble, stay in toruble but just dont get caught. CHEERS!!!