Saturday's experience: a cycling excursion

At the end of the past week we had sunny warm weather. We had to choose the best way to spend this wonderful time. Go for a walk? Go for a bike ride? Go on an excursion? I found a way to combine all of them: I went on a bike tour of one of the new neighbourhoods in the city. Although this neighbourhood is considered new, and it was built up in the late 20th and early 21st century, the area was not completely deserted in previous periods. There was life here, and we can find some memories of that life among the new multi-storey buildings. A bit of a problem with touring this kind of area is that there can be quite a long distance between individual sights - too long for walking.

Some landmarks are located at key viewpoints, while others are hidden deep in the neighbourhoods. For example, this water tower is surrounded on all sides by the shells of a modern apartment building. The house was built between 2012 and 2017, and the tower is the last surviving fragment of a paper spinning manufactory and was built in the mid-19th century.

Our next stop is at the small square in front of the supermarket. At first glance this place doesn't stand out in any way, except that we are on a hill and trying to hide from the wind behind the wall of a house. It turns out to be an ancient market square. The location of the square can be determined from ancient maps, but no landmarks have been preserved on the ground.

We move on and arrive at the monument to a local peasant woman. Traditionally, artisan labourers settled here and dairy farms were established. The monument depicts a dairywoman rushing to the market with a jug of milk.

I take the opportunity to take a photo of my bicycle. The bikes for the tour are provided by the organisation, they are almost identical, differing only in colour. I was afraid that I would find it difficult to get around on an unfamiliar hire bike. But the bike is in very good condition, comfortable, and I enjoyed the cycling.

Our next destination is the complex of ponds, canals and buildings of the old mineral water resort. Benches and pavilions are now set up on the banks of the ponds, with locals sitting in them and enjoying a warm Saturday afternoon. The old pavilion houses a tea house. But the channel leading to the healing spring has long disappeared - in the XX century a well was drilled nearby and the old springs dried up.

Near the springs at the end of the XIX century was built Elizabeth community of sisters of mercy. The buildings of the community and the church have been recently restored and the surrounding area has been decorated with small sculptures. My favourite is the gravitsappa, designed to make instant intergalactic flights.

Meanwhile, our tour is nearing its end. The last site we are going to visit is the Church in the name of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth.

The church was built in the second half of the XIX century by the architect Nikolai Benois for the Catholic community. The entrance to the church is guarded by a cute shaggy guard, but he does not prevent you from visiting the church. Just outside the entrance door we see a poster "Photography is allowed" - and we gladly take advantage of this permission.

In the XX century this church, like many others, was closed. There was a warehouse here, and the old interiors were lost. But the interior of the church, even without rich decoration, makes a strong impression. On the spiral wooden staircase you can go upstairs, to the choir, to look at the hall from above.

That's it, the tour ends! I retreat to the far end of the churchyard to take a panoramic photo and hurry back to the group. We only have a short stretch of road to travel to the meeting point and hand over our bikes, which have helped us move quickly between sights on this tour.

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Smartphone	Google Pixel 3a
Location	Saint Petersburg, Russia