Lost In Translation

So I made it to Russia, after a 12 hour train ride which I slept for all of it bar the 2 or so hours
of boarder fun I am finally in St. Petersburg. I found the hostel with a bit of guess work. Cuban Hostel is my home for 3 nights and its slap bang in the centre of the city which is great for exploring. St. Petersburg is an expensive city, its getting up there with London prices.

The cheapest thing by far is vodka with the cheapest i’ve bottle i’ve found being just over £1 for a 1 lit of the evil stuff! The 1st thing you have to do when visiting a city in Russia is to register where you are staying so they can keep tabs on you. Well thats the idea anyway but its a load of bollocks as my hostel can’t do registration so they sent me to find a travel agents in some little back street and get it done there. So armed with a scrap piece of paper with the name jotted down on it I was of to find it….. could I find the travel agent? could I bollocks. After an hour searching I gave up and headed back to the hostel. Where I started to get home sick for the 1st time and really felt like giving up and flying back to South Africa to be with Ellie.

In the afternoon I decide to get off my arse and do something so I took the guide book and went out sightseeing. I first came across ‘The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood

which is how I imagined Russian Churches to look. What a beautiful church with it great onion dome roofs. Inside is just as spectacular with 7000 sq meters of mosaic tiles lining the walls (thanks for lonely planet for that fact) What astounded me, in communist times they used it and many other churches as warehouses.

I then stumbled on to the Winter Palace which is draw dropping and makes Buckingham Palace look like a shed. Part of the palace is the Hermitage which is a massive art museum which houses some of the greatest pieces of art in the world. Its so huge its meant to take two days to get around. I don’t have two days so im going to take a whirl wind tour on Friday around my favorite period ‘Florentine art from the 13th to 16th centuries’. (thanks again lonely planet,like I know what im talking about when It comes to fine art). Being the number on attraction in St. Petersburg’s the queues look horrendous from the outside, still I am in Russia and this country is famous for its long lines.

Update, I went there today (Friday) and I can see why its so popular, 4 hours I spent wondering around looking at da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo and ancient artifacts from Mongolia, Greece and Egypt. Wonderful stuff, Its a must if you come here.

The next day was again sightseeing taking in Peter & Paul’s Fortress which was a bit of a disappointment, then walking past the Central Naval Museum where hoards of wedding parties pull up in there stretched limos and get there photos taken in front of the fountains. The bride and groom then smash there champagne glasses on the side of the dock I guess for good luck. Fire crackers go off, The band starts to play and the families of the bride and groom go nuts, I would love to see what happens at the after show party. All very tacky in a wedding type of way but I found myself strangely drawn to watching them for the next hour.

One thing has sadden me to see that still goes on over here is bear dancing and having bear cubs chained up with there claws cut and muzzles around there mouths. Even sadder there are still tourists happy to pay and have their photo taken with the poor thing. last part of the day I got told by loads of people I must go and watch the St Petersburg bridges raise. This happens every night at about 1am so ships can pass in to the river. So me and a top French guy decided to stay up and check it out. When we got to the river it was mobbed, people everywhere, so what was gonna happen when they raised? Laser in the sky? fire works being set off? nope, nothing, nothing at all. The bridges went up and let a couple of tatty looking ship in to the river and that was it. Unless we were missing the point it was a bit pointless trip out at 1am. I have had more fun watching UKTV Gardens.

Loads of walking on the next day, taking in the views of St Petersburg from the top of St Isaac’s Cathedral and checking out a couple of photography galleries. I also had to go and pick up my visa registration which was on the other side of town. l did so much walking and my trainers aren’t very good for walking in so I now have two massive blisters on my feet so i’m now walking like a spacker.

Last day was spent at Hermitage (see above) and the Summer Gardens which is a very peaceful park on the river. A fine way to spend a last afternoon in St Petersburg. I’m getting the hang of this travelling by myself now and am feeling happier now.. Right i’m off to Moscow! catch you later.

6 Responses to “Lost In Translation”

1. Stuart William says:

   June 11, 2007 at 6:18 pm

   Gross pictures of feet! Thats probably what the burgers look like when you find the first Macdonalds in Moscow! Dont forget to get a picture and a Big McRuskie!
2. hannah says:

   June 11, 2007 at 7:04 pm

   ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww MY EYES MY EYES
3. Grubby says:

   June 11, 2007 at 7:44 pm

   Did we really need to see Ceryl and the damage you have done to him?!
4. Richard Kenney says:

   June 12, 2007 at 12:51 am

   Makes a pleasant change you walking like a spacker instead of a massive fudger.
5. Ellie says:

   June 12, 2007 at 4:48 pm

   HAHAHAHA!! EEoooow!! Aaw, poor Sam! You’re hobbits’ feet look even funnier now! hehehe, mwah! XX
6. Anton Yelchin says:

   November 11, 2007 at 5:41 pm

   Hey!…I Googled for st petersburg visa, but found your page about Lost In Translation…and have to say thanks. nice read.