St Petersburg, Russia

Breakfast was in the hotel this morning, before a day of travelling around St. Petersburg. The day started at Smolny Monastery, which, now a days, was a winery. When the Bolsheviks came into power, all the girls attending the school, being of nobility, were either shot or sent to Siberia.

Smolny Monastery, St. Petersburg, Russia

When the Bolsheviks started their Revolution, it began in the Aurora, a naval warship now docked on the island where St. Petersburg was established.

The Aurora, St. Petersburg, Russia

Also on this island is Peter & Paul’s Fortress (our next stop). This was the building in Russia where the tsars, Peter the Great, defeated the Swedes. The fortress now contains a cathedral where all the tsars and tsarinas are buried, and a prison, which was used for political prisoners, both by and for the tsar families.

After this, we went to a dodgy CD shop in a room on a back street (as organized by Gavin through his Russian contact, Serge) where CDs were only US$3.50 each. I contained myself to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (who we missed in St. Petersburgh by three days) Greatest Hits and a live Bad Religion CD.

After this, it was a visit to St. Isaac’s Cathedral – an absolutely amazing church, full of religious art. This is the city’s principal cathedral, where everyone stands during services.

St. Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia

From here we did a viewing of Church of Our Saviour (Spilled Blood). This is the only Moscow-style church (like that of the onion-domed church in Red Square) in St. Petersburg. It is so beautiful outside and apparently more so than St. Isaac’s on the inside, but AU$26 entry, Roberta and I decide against it.

Church of Our Saviour (Spilled Blood), St. Petersburg, Russia

Church of Our Saviour (Spilled Blood), St. Petersburg, Russia

Next to the church was the flea market, where we purchased some traditional Russian Dolls. Roberta bought two and I got three. Mum’s getting a traditional one, Kelly is getting a Snow White and Seven Dwarves, and a Nirvana one for myself.

Today was the hottest day of the tour so far (33oC) and, of course, the day we picked to walk the hour and a half back to the hotel. We got some food from the supermarket and stopped at the Blue Domed Church along the way.

The Blue Domed Church, St. Petersburg, Russia

After dinner in the hotel, we tour went to Nikolaevsky Palace to see a traditional Russian folk show. Singing, dancing and music! This was spectacular. It was also fun to see Nick, Paulino and Ken pulled from the crowd to dance on stage.

Traditional Russian Show at Nikolaevsky Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

Nick, Ken & Paulino On Stage, Traditional Russian Show at Nikolaevsky Palace, St. Petersburg, Russia

I wish we could stay longer in St. Petersburgh, as it is a most amazing city, which we only touched the surface of. More free time to wander the streets, and a couple of days in the Hermitage would have been more to my want. Maybe another time!