St Petersburg is built on 33 islands, separated by picturesque canals and rivers, and linked by dozens of drawbridges and bridges – 350 across the city.
After arriving on the train from Velikiy Novgorod, dropped stuff at hotel and went to join drawbridge cruise on the Neva River – saw magnificent illuminated monuments and buildings on the river’s embankments like the Hermitage Museum complex, the Kunstkamera museum and Peter and Paul fortress. The opening of the Palace Bridge on Vasilievskiy Island and Trinity Bridge were spectacular!!
St Issac’s CathedralCentral Exhibition Hall – collection of Soviet art, plus contemporary art shows and workshopsCommissioned by Catherine the Great, a staue of Peter the Great sitting heroically on his horse, his outstretched arm pointing towards the River Neva. The sculptor, Falconet, wished to capture a scene of his horse rearing at the edge of a dramatic cliff. (The ‘Thunderstone” pedestal weighs 1500 tons, took 400 men over 2 years to chisel into shape and move into location). His horse can be seen trampling a snake, variously interpreted to represent treachery, evil, or the enemies of Peter and his reforms.The Kunstkamera museum, anthropological and ethnographical curoiosities.Palace BridgeTrinity BridgeFinal view on disembarkation, beautiful!
I live in St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. Having worked for 3 decades, yes 3......I now plan to travel the globe and am excited about the journeys and adventures ahead. I'd like to share stories, experiences and maybe some inspirations with friends and family in real time...
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