Hi, my name is Ekaterina (or Katya, or Kate) and I’m from St. Petersburg which is probably the most European city in our country. I’ve been living here for more than 10 years and can’t stop enjoying this splendid place. It’s beauty and grandeur are still fresh and new for me and I will be glad to take a walk with you and keep you a company even there where I’ve already been before.
I like a good joke and a good book but sitting in cafe in a good company or hanging out in a bar is no worse. ;) I'm interested in travelling, history, doing yoga, walking in parks and just around the city. I like the large parks outside SPB near the Pavlovsk, Ekaterininsky and Gatchina palaces. It’s a pleasure to leave noise and fuss of the city behind and get away there.
My Instagram veroca.vk

PHILOSOPHY
If one is not enjoying one's present there isn't a great deal to suggest that the future should be any better.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

II was always interested in cross-cultural interaction and exchange of views, trying to "get into other person’s skin", to see the world through the eyes of the other person, to feel the variety of life. I want to extend my idea about the world, to find out other lifestyles, cultures. We are all different and that’s great. My goal is first of all in communication, exchange of ideas, thoughts, emotions and impressions. Well... and a bit selfish wish to practice my English and German language skills.
I’m not sure whether or not I’m ready to act as a host (though I don’t exclude it completely), but I can show you my city from the inside out, the way I see it, my favourite places to walk, to learn the culture of my country and sightseeing of the city, places to have a good meal and a good drink. Besides Saint Petersburg is not only the city itself but also beautiful townships – former royal residences with palaces, parks and fountains where I can drive you to. Saint Petersburg is first and foremost the history. Being the capital of Russia during the most interesting periods the city can offer a lot to the interested travelers and I have something to narrate you both on the ground and in one of my favorite bars and cafes. ;)
There is not so much time in year for journeys, and while in business trips you almost don’t have time for personal interests. So why not to meet the world at home in your own city! And of course travelling like an ordinary tourist you come to know what kind of animals the locals are just formally. Here you can get the right answers.
Let’s get acquainted and hang out! Let's share the world with each other! It’s really interesting! Welcome and see you in SPB!

Interests

• dogs
• literature
• poetry
• cooking
• yoga
• gyms
• bouldering
• music
• classical music
• rock music
• history
• sightseeing
• historic sites
• parks
• films
• cinema
• bars
• theatre
• humor
• pizza
• sushi
• climbing
• jokes
• comedy
• drama
• cinematography
• good conversation
• pubs
• germany
• goodfood
• walking around
• camino
• historical places
• tolkien
• pasta
• translation
• tracking
• walks
• walks in nature
• camino de santiago
• paintings
• arthouse cinema
• arthouse movies
• good people
• good beer
• good books
• laughting
• detectives
• queen
• parks and recreation
• walks on the beach
• goodwine
• walks around the city
• history and culture
• sightseeng

Music, Movies, and Books

Music I listen: Queen, Nirvana, Oasis, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Beatles, Scorpoins, Hozier, Duran Duran, George Michael, Rolling Stones, jazz, Russian rock music, classical music, Soundtrack to PS I Love You, Soundtrack to Trainspotting, Notre-Dame De Paris (Musical), Romeo and Juliet (Musical)

Films I watch: American Beauty (Sam Mendes), A Single Man (Tom Ford), The Talented Mr. Ripley (Antony Mingella), Gods and Monsters (Bill Condon) Melancholia (Lars von Trier), Nymphomaniac (Lars von Trier), The Lord of the Rings (Peter Jackson), The Big Lebowski (Coen brothers), Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (John Madden), Burn After Reading (Coen brothers), The Handmaid's Tale, Westworld, Black Sails, Downton Abbey, Brideshead Revisited (1981), Being Julia (István Szabó), The History Boys (Nicholas Hytner), Woody Allen’s films, Intouchables (Olivier Nakache), Les amours imaginaires (Xavier Dolan), The Five Senses (Jeremy Podeswa), P.S. I Love You (Richard LaGravenese)

Books I read: Michael Cunningham, Mikhail Bulgakov, Anton Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Vladimir Nabokov, Donna Tartt, Daniel Keyes, Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh, William Somerset Maugham, Milorad Pavić, Hermann Hesse, George Bernard Shaw

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Flying aircraft simulator with a real pilot instructing. Went to Germany and obtained 2nd citizenship. Did 260 km on foot with a backpack from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Camino de Santiago.

Teach, Learn, Share

I will try to convince you that Russia is not only snow, vodka, balalaika and matryoshka. ;) Language exchange. Amateur city-tour through the centre (I'm interested in history of the city and can tell you something). I can drive you to the palaces outside the city if I have free time.

What I Can Share with Hosts

At present I’m not planning to use hosts hospitality.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

Germany