Land Trip - Europe (Day 25-26: St Petersburg, Russia)

25 Aug 2011 (Day 25)

I missed eggs so much that I just had to eat it. I bought some eggs from the Supermarket (my favorite place) the previous day and fried 2 Sunny-side ups for my breakfast.

Met Raul, a nice young man from Mexico, and decided to join him to visit Catherine's Palace. It was quite a long journey - 1 hour and a half.  Took the Metro and transferred to a bus.

Catherine's Palace is huge and has a huge garden and a lake that goes with it.

Went to Peter & Paul Fortress for a while and headed to Peterhof Palace. 

On the way to Peterhof Palace, my traveling partner, Seng Yew and I were pickpocket targets! While waiting for the train in the underground Metro Station, there were 2 guys who kept staring at us. They were wearing typical sports jacket and were following us. We tried to move to another section but I saw one guy was on the phone and kept staring at my direction. As he came nearer, I maneuvered my way into a crowd of people and went the other way.

First, you must understand that before I noticed 2 guys staring at us, there was this Russian girl who came up to me and asked for directions in Russian!!! Hey, no matter how you look at me or which angle you look at me, I still don't look like Russian or like someone staying in Russia. And I read that pickpockets usually work in pairs or in a group. So that girl was obviously a distraction and I just said "I don't know" and walked away. 

We made sure that the 2 guys were not in the same carriages as we boarded the train. The carriages in Russia are not connected like the MRT in Singapore so the guys would not be able to come anywhere near us. We also made sure that they were not following us when we alighted.....Close shave!

Fountains are the things to see in Peterhof Palace. But I arrived only after 5:30pm, which meant that the fountains were already switched off. The good news? The entry ticket price is much cheaper.

Without the fountains, I could already see the grandeur of the place. The Grand Cascade is truly magnificent. I could only imagine how it would look like when the fountains were on.

(The Grand Cascade)

26 Aug 2011 (Day 26)

I booked the tickets to the Hermitage Museum online to avoid long queues there. It is a little more expensive compared to getting it at the ticket booth, but the price includes video and photography, which you need to pay additionally if you get the tickets at the Museum.

The Hermitage Museum is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. It was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great. Its collections comprises of nearly 3 million items, including the largest collection of paintings in the world.

For a person who doesn't know how to appreciate art, I spent more than 3 hours in the Hermitage! It is definitely a must-go place in St Petersburg (MY CITY). Yes, even if you don't know how to appreciate art!

(Lenin's Statue outside Finland Station)

(Church of the Savior on Blood)

 

(Inside The Hermitage)

(Henri Matisse's Dance)

On the way back, I walked to see St Issac Cathedral, which is the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral in the city and one of the most popular attractions there. Look at the main dome. It is plated with pure gold!

(St Issac Cathedral)

Took some photos and went back to get ready for my bus trip to Riga, Latvia!!!

After almost being pick-pocketed, MY LIFE WAS NEVER, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...............................EEEE.....................................EEVER, THE SAME AGAIN!!!

Land Trip - Europe (Day 23-24: Moscow to St Petersburg, Russia)

23 Aug 2011 (Day 23)

Met up with Ardi at 9:45am to see Lenin's Mausoleum. It opens at 10am so I thought that we were early. I was wrong! The queue was already very long when we got there and we had to queue for 1 and a half hour just to see the embalmed body of Lenin! Not sure if it was really worth the wait to see the Mummy of Lenin but I guessed I learned my lesson. Must be really early for such popular attractions.

The next must-go destination in the Capital of the Russian Federation is the Kremlin. So I paid 350 Rubles to enter. Wanted to go to the Armory to see the Diamonds but the timing wasn't right. I guess I'll do it next time.

(Entrance to the Kremlin)

After spending about 2-3hours in the Kremlin, Ardi and I parted ways. I want to go back to my hostel to rest for a while and to catch up on my blogging. I had a train to catch to St Petersburg that night. 

As I walked back to my hostel, I bought a super-delicious Hot Dog from a Kiosk. I saw many locals queuing up for it and I simply followed. Really great Hot Dog! Then I stumbled upon Tretyakov Drive again. The same place I stumbled upon the previous night and bought the cars, remember?

(Tretyakov Drive-One of the World's most expensive street)

 (One of the Metro Stations)

Got back to my hostel, got some things done, and off I went to the Railway Train Station. It is a sleeper train with 4 beds per "cabin". The thing is that the so called "cabin" has got no doors. It is just next to the corridor.

24 Aug 2011 (Day 24)

6:15am. Arrived in MY CITY, St Petersburg!!!

Walked to my Hostel in less than 10 minutes! What a contrast to Moscow! St Petersburg is the second largest city in the former Soviet Union and has a lot more to offer than its capital. Many people I met told me that they preferred St Petersburg than Moscow. Me too! Of course, it is MY CITY!

For one, more people speak English here. Second, the Metro is a whole lot easier to understand and use. Third, the Metro has signs in English! (As well as most part of the city.) So, navigating around the city is not a problem at all. Easy peesy...

(Moskoysky Vokzal Railway Station)

(Russian Lunch)

I walked down Nevsky Prospekt, the main Avenue of St Petersburg and one of the Most Famous Streets in Russia. It is the city's main artery and cuts through the historical center of the city.

I walked all the way from my Hostel to the Neva River along Nevsky Preospekt. I think I took 3 hours? Of course I went to malls, took pictures along the way and ate lunch. But it is really a long street. Then I walked back. Took 1 hour.

(Alexander Column. In front of Hermitage Museum)

(Neva River. Peter & Paul Fortress at the background)

Was sorting out my videos and photos in my Hostel. Then finally, my professional camera crew arrived! My camera crew consists a total of......................1 person.

Anyway, went to have dinner at a self-service restaurant that was recommended by the receptionist in my Hostel. Food was good and cheap! 2 minutes walk from my hostel!

(Dinner time!)

After walking for more than 4 hours, MY LIFE WAS NEVER, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE................EEEE.............................EEVER, THE SAME, AGAIN!!!