The following morning we awoke early (according to Russian time) at 9am and headed for some of the palaces that made up small collections of the Russian museum. St Issacs was a minor pink castle, surrounded by a moat in the middle of town. Thr marble museum housed a interesting collection of impressionist works, slightly left field to be honest. Situation on the river Nive which runs through St Petersburg, it was beautifully set in romantic gardens.
I’m not sure the merits if having manned metal detects which you walk through with your bag. Each person sets it off but no one is searched, or has to hand over their bag. I love Russian security!
Over museums by this stage, so we headed for the Church of the Spilled Blood, named as such as was built from 1883 till 1907 at the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. Modelled on St Basil’s Church in the Red Square in Moscow, it has classical coloured turrets juxtaposed against the soviet style buildings and imperial palaces. The mosaics inside are just jaw drooping, covering the entirety of the inside, nearly 60m up the main spire. Having seen the Cistine Chapel, this church definitely competes as the most beautiful church we have seen. Taking 27 years to restore, the beautiful colours and ornate gold finishes are truly divine.
We headed back to the hostel mid-afternoon as had to get to the orchestra; over an hour’s walk way. Unfortunately due to lack of formal planning, the metro seems to snake through St Petersburg in an odd fashion, missing massive areas that are equally not served by buses. After an hours walk in our finest clothes (Emily looked amazing in a dress purchased in Dubai, me in my farmer shirt from NZ) we made it to Mariinsky theatre, the most famous ballet house and orchestra concert hall in St Petersburg. It was an amazing concert hall; you could sit behind the orchestra for a different perspective. Mozart and Strauss filled the evening; thoroughly enjoyed. Emily loved the harp!
After the orchestra we went out for drinks before watching a unique element of ‘the white lights’ – the raising of the bridges on the river Neva. Built low to the water, the bridges open at night for a few hours to let cargo travel deep into the Russian interior. Apparently through a series of water ways it connects to the Black Sea in south Russia. We headed to the waterfront at 1.30am, it’s still light at this hour, the sun having barely set on the horizon. Masses of people, crowded the water front to see the bridges lift up; an odd sight seeing the lamp posts at 80 degree angles. This city has so many people out on the street at any hour of the day !
Russian hostels are a slightly different style to many of the places we have stayed in. Having an 8 bed dorm room with no curtains combined with the fact that the sun never truly sets; bedroom etiquette seems to go out the window. Coupled with the 27 degrees at night and no aircon, it can be pretty stifling. Our rooms seems to have some long term stayers, who appear to have their little corner of the room all set up. It’s also different to find people sleeping in tents set up on the living room and asleep on the kitchen floor.
In any case it’s a bed to sleep in !