Travel // Going Around // Europe // Trekking Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg’s skyline at the crack of dawn. To be exact, I took this photo from the ship at exactly 4:40 A.M. right at Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, the berth assigned to the ship for this call. Move your eye balls to the right, that towering dome is of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Covered with gold and has one of the largest domes in the world, the majestic St. Isaac’s Cathedral is a towering structure all around Saint Petersburg. The cathedral is one of Saint Petersburg’s most popular tourist attractions.
Saint Isaac’s Cathedral. Photo taken on July 11, 2010
Saint Petersburg is Russia’s largest seaport located in the northwestern part of the country. Noted for its lavish palaces and grand cathedrals, Saint Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Saint Petersburg is situated on the banks of the Neva River and the numerous islands around its estuary. Sheltered from gusting winds and fairly negligible currents, Saint Petersburg inner harbors provide cruise ships coming in to visit the city with a very peaceful port stay.
Majestic structures along the river banks. Photo taken on July 11, 2010
Just a short walk from St. Isaac’s Cathedral is the Palace Square. Palace Square is the main square of the city in which the Alexander Column stands. On the northern side of the square is the picturesque Winter Palace, a Baroque concept palace in green and white. This vastly ornate palace houses the State Hermitage Museum. The Hermitage contains one of the world’s greatest collections of art, including extensive holdings of Italian Renaissance and French Impressionist paintings. The Winter Palace, completed in 1762, was the winter home of Russian emperors before the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo taken on July 11, 2010
I got nothing to say during my first visit to Saint Petersburg. Not because the city did not impress me which of course totally not true but because I did not went ashore – that simple. The ship remained in port for 3 days and 2 nights during that time but I just let that big opportunity to see the city’s formidable city squares and its majestic palaces slip by. Well, spring season was just about to end during that time and walking around the city with cold air still lingering all around was for me a mild torture. But my second visit to Saint Petersburg was a rewarding and unforgettable one. This time summer season was already in full blast and strolling around the city with daylight that lasts 24 hours was as tempting and as inviting as those majestic palaces that welcomes hundreds to thousands of visitors from everywhere around the globe. By European standards, Saint Petersburg is a young city. In 2003, Saint Petersburg celebrated the 300th anniversary of its foundation – yet wherever I look there are reminders of an eventful history.
If I say one day is all I need to be able see much of Saint Petersburg’s splendors, then indeed I make a mistake. Numerous as I could think of, tourist spots in Saint Petersburg are as interesting as its significant history. Unfortunately, my time was very limited so I only managed to visit these two most popular and interesting places – Winter Palace and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. On my way back to the ship, I passed by several floating restaurants and sight seeing boats. It’s really tempting to ride on these boats but time was really so tight.
A floating restaurant in Saint Petersburg. Photo taken on July 11, 2010
Russian souvenirs...souvenirs...souvenirs... Well, I have 10 Russian dolls in my cabin right now...LOL.... For my next visit to Saint Petersburg, I am thinking about this Russian egg.
