St. Petersburg.....Beyond Comparison

I have been to some amazing cities in the past but without a doubt, this brings world class to another level.  St. Petersburg is cleaner than clean with an undisturbed skyline. Most buildings are no taller than four or five stories and with few exceptions. The Neva River runs through the middle of the city, with canals crisscrossing in every direction. It is lined on either side by a never ending row of museums, galleries, palaces, store fronts and living quarters. The historical significance is unparalleled.

Our first encounter is with the world renowned Hermitage Museum which contains over three million artifacts. Everything from Rembrandt to Davinci to Matisse to Vangogh to Faberge to Gainsborough and everything in between. The crowds are overwhelming and what was a spectacular display was dampened by the constant jostling and shuffling. As there are no visa requirements for the Chinese visiting Russia, I hope the last person to leave China, turned off the lights. And of course an evening performance of Swan Lake is in order. No pictures please.

The opulence of the Catherine Palace in Pushkin is astounding. Ascending the grand staircase into the ornate mirrored ballroom is jaw dropping. Gold and crystal chandeliers reflect off of the mirrors giving the appearance of infinite length and breadth. Several characters are in period costume and they bring us back to a period when the two solitudes could understandably be at odds with one another.

St Petersburgh et environs is so entrenched in culture that a subsequent post is an absolute must. Stay tuned for a Take 2.