My name is Alex, I am an urban-journalist from Russia. I was born in Novgorod, ancient Hansa town of Russian Nord-West, where my family lived for 400 years. My parents moved to St-Petersburg, and I spent all my life here, on the turning point between Europe in Russia. Since 2004 I travel every year, mostly in Northern and Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Baltic countries, Sweden and of course Finland. Maamme Suomi is my favorite place to visit.

At home I’m prize-winning urban-journalist, editor of the second biggest web-site about real estate in Saint-Petersburg. I started in political journalism and photo-reporting at 2008, but a few years after decided to focus on the urban-development articles, multimedia stories and saving of cultural heritage.
A few facts about me:

-Mostly I travel with my wife Anastasia, inspired medical doctor, one of the best young neurologists in the country,
-I am 1\4 Tatar, not just Russian, so I look a bit different from tipical Slavs,
-I don’t support present russian officials and model of state,
-I don’t believe in god, but feel like a person inspired by European Christian culture. I prefer protestant ethic, but open and tolerant to any religions and the most of philosophic concepts,
-Only thing I don’t like at all is communism. Yes, red would never be my favorite color,
-Never have had any problems with queer, homophobia is not my wave,
-I believe that age of empires is over and now it’s an age of local. I love little countries more, than bigger one. So, don’t believe my passport,
-My main interest is European classic architecture; I am not fond of post-modern art,
-Trains, trams and bikes upon the all, by the way,

…you can ask for more facts

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To explore the world with just a little budget!

Interests

Urbanism, bike, retro, architecture, jugendstil, Europe, city-life, literature, differences

• arts
• culture
• literature
• architecture
• modern art
• photography
• coloring
• modeling
• traveling
• cycling
• history
• journalism
• medicine
• religion
• hitchhiking

Music, Movies, and Books

Grand Budapest Hotel, La migliore offerta, Everything illuminated, Schindler's list, Heima

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Hitchhiking military heavy-cargo in Pskov-forest with a fake Aircraft-officer as a driver

Teach, Learn, Share

Photography, journalism, St-Petersburg's history and architecture, traveling Russia, international studies, Russian language

Countries I’ve Visited

Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Scotland, Sweden, Ukraine

Countries I’ve Lived In

Russian Federation