Travel: St Petersburg, Russia

     I am writing this in March of 2014 and Russia has just recognized Crimea as its own.  In light of this historic action, I thought to share my photos of a trip a while back to St. Petersburg, Russia (or as a Russian ex-pat called it, "Oh, you mean Leningrad").

     We had a two day stay in St. Petersburg while on a cruise.  There were strict instructions regarding our disembarkation: do not lose your passport or the slip of paper issued that permits your visit.  We guarded those documents with our lives.  I held onto the passports and the slips of paper were tightly secured within its pages.  The Russian ladies who issued the papers were stone-faced, not a smile, not a smirk; ice-cold.  OK, not too welcoming, but guess all countries' immigration and customs have the same demeanor.
     We boarded the bus that was to take us to the famous Catherine's Palace a short bus ride away.  Having the window seat on a tour bus gives you a bit of an elevated view of the scene - you see city sights above car height but close enough to see faces as they stroll or speed their way through the sidewalks.
     As we left the city limits we were in the countryside that was already deep into autumn, despite it being only the beginning of September.  We passed a field, with a huge factory/complex at the far end.  In the field there were people working; it was explained they were old Russians and only knew the old way of working the fields in order to be paid and eat.  The building at the far end of the field looked like a nuclear power plant; we were told no, it was not nuclear, but indeed a power plant, sort of...it supplied the heat and hot water for the city and would not be turned on until November.  (Geez, it was cold already!  I was wearing double layers of sweaters and a leather jacket - and could really have done with feeling a bit warmer.)

Catherine's Palace

     Finally we arrived to the town of Pushkin and the most magnificent palace I've ever seen; it was blue and white and appeared to go on in infinity.  There was some confusion upon the tour's arrival to the reception area and I wondered if we were to be allowed the tour.  After some back and forth, shoe-booties were issued and we were permitted to begin the tour.  It was amazingly beautiful.  Endless rooms filled with priceless works of art and the architecture and interior details themselves were priceless.  Magnificent.  After a full morning plus of touring the palace it was time for lunch.

   

     The tour included a lunch at an "authentic" Russian

Church of our Savior of the Spilled Blood

restaurant with music included.  The muscians were very entertaining and provided just the right amount of distraction to the controlled tour.  After lunch we were off again for more sightseeing.  We were off to the Church of the Spilled Blood http://www.saint-petersburg.com/cathedrals/church-resurrection-jesus-christ.asp.  The mosaics on the exterior on the onion domes, the amazing mosaics on the interior walls and ceilings - it was an experience; a feast for the eyes.  Another spectacular sight after another.  All the time the small group was carefully herded and guided along.
     Upon returning to the ship's dock later that afternoon, we had to pass through the customs and immigration ladies.  First all purses, backpacks and purchases had to be inspected in an x-ray machine (like the ones used at airports), then you collected them and walked with your passport and the "all important piece of paper" to be presented for approval; a nod and a look that said "move on" was the only communication.  No smiles from either side of the counter...
     Day 2 of our visit we knew the routine, show the passport, get your slip of paper, guard it and board the bus.  Off to the Hermitage Museum...there are no words to describe this; but only one word comes to mind: overwhelming.  We were in the museum what seemed for hours going from one gallery to the next, one room more grand than the next - it was almost too much to take in.  The tour group finally gathered round and we were led to our bus; the bus travelled a good 15 minutes before we rounded the entrance where we had arrived!  (How big is this place?!)  

     After another interesting Russian lunch, we had one more tour; Yusupov Palace.  What made this a little more interesting was the fact that Rasputin was lured to the palace and to his (attempted) death. A real good story; read it here: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/museums/yusupov-palace/
The palace itself was opulent and one could almost live there after seeing the size of Catherine's Palace, this one seemed manageable!

 Back toward the ship, I gazed out the window and smiled as I happened to see these two interesting establishments!  Yes, that's a McDonalds on the right and below left is an Irish Pub serving Jamesons Whiskey!


Fifi