Church of the Resurrection, a.k.a.
Church of the Spilt Blood, just off
Nevsky Prospekt
Church of the Spilt Blood, just off
Nevsky Prospekt
"At any point in time approximately 20%
of Russians are drunk" - our guide,
Hendrik.
of Russians are drunk" - our guide,
Hendrik.
The church was built on the site
of Alexander II's assassination
of Alexander II's assassination
Nearly destroyed in WW II, it has been
fully and beautifully restored to
pre-revolutionary grandeur
fully and beautifully restored to
pre-revolutionary grandeur
The palace and its 1500 acre grounds
needed as many as 1000 servants to
support the prince and his family's
lifestyle
needed as many as 1000 servants to
support the prince and his family's
lifestyle
Pavlovsk Palace - built for Catherine
the Great's son, Paul
the Great's son, Paul
Powerful and haunting memorial to the
1000-day siege of Leningrad during
WW II
1000-day siege of Leningrad during
WW II
Nearly one million Russians died during
the siege, mostly from starvation
the siege, mostly from starvation
Many young Russian women are
beautiful, stylish & sexy - including
our faux Paris Hilton
beautiful, stylish & sexy - including
our faux Paris Hilton
Everything is for sale in the new Russia.
Menu at the restaurant Da Vinci.
Menu at the restaurant Da Vinci.
The Muzei Ermitazh (Hermitage Museum)
houses the Imperial collection begun by
Catherine the Great and added to during
the Soviet era.
houses the Imperial collection begun by
Catherine the Great and added to during
the Soviet era.
The museum was one of the royal
palaces and houses an estimated
3 million pieces of sculpture,
paintings, antiquities, and artifacts.
palaces and houses an estimated
3 million pieces of sculpture,
paintings, antiquities, and artifacts.
Nyet-nyet lady a.k.a. babushkas of the
Hermitage #1
Hermitage #1
The permanent display area
occupies over 300 rooms
occupies over 300 rooms
Most Hermitage rooms are majestic
and remarkable in their decoration
and remarkable in their decoration
#2
#3
Our Nevsky Prospekt photo essay:
babushkas in training
babushkas in training
It was rare to see Russians smile - most seemed somber and reflective.
Strolling along Nevsky Prospekt is very
popular especially during Summer Solstice / White Nights with sunsets at 11:15 PM.
A family garden in the Russian countryside.
They have a saying about the weather:
"We have nine months of anticipation and
three months of disappointment" -
Novgorod tour guide.
They have a saying about the weather:
"We have nine months of anticipation and
three months of disappointment" -
Novgorod tour guide.
Isn't he great! He was a taxi
driver in-between fares.
driver in-between fares.
Our favorite babushka - and a capitalist
too. She happily accepted American
dollars for a photo, posing near the
Russian Orthodox Church in Novgorod.
too. She happily accepted American
dollars for a photo, posing near the
Russian Orthodox Church in Novgorod.