Rostov the Great

Rostov-Veliky, Russia - For a place called Rostov-Veliky, or Rostov "the Great", this place give the impression of a sleepy village, with little wooden houses that have flowers bursting out of their gardens and cats peeking out of their windows. And in their midst, rise the white-washed walls and the gold and silver onion domes of the Rostov Kremlin. The center is littered with galleries, as Rostov has long been known as an artistic center and artists come from all over the former Soviet Union. Spread out along the shore of the Lake Nero, there are two monasteries and countless little merchant churches, all evoking a fairytale past.

Despite all of these draws, Rostov is still off the tourist track. A few do come to visit the Kremlin, but not nearly as many as Suzdal or Sergiev Posad.

This is where I want to open a guesthouse. Not a big resort-complex catering to groups, but a small cozy place on the lake, with a Russian banya and Kremlin views.

Rostov is begging for it. There is a fast train that comes from Moscow in two hours. At the moment, there are only a few places to stay in town and it's difficult to book a room on the weekend - a sign that the demand exists. Real estate prices are extremely low compared to Suzdal. And did I mention the lake?

So, Rostov has replaced Suzdal on my Best of Russia list, mainly due to the increase of tourism in Suzdal. And here I go talking about opening guesthouse in Rostov. I told you I was part of the problem.