St. Petersburg and its beauty

St. Petersburg and its beauty

The last days were packed with a lot of sightseeing. I tried to spent most of the time in the city centre, where most oft the beautiful cultural heritage is preserved. Just to give you some ideas of what you can manage within 8 days here: a ballet play, the Peter and Paul fortification, the Farbargé museum, visiting some churches, enjoying a walk in the Hermitage, some shopping and 2 cinema visits (of course in Russian language only). And if I did not have courses at the university, I could have seen much more! Every day in the city centre is a day worth to be there, since there is always something new to experience. I hope I do not get used to this city too much as I am visiting more and more museums in the upcoming weeks. 

Ballet "La Bayadère" at the Mikhailovsky Theatre

Peter and Paul fortification (the place where St. Petersburg was founded)

The fortification is on a small island where there are several small museums and a church

Peter and Paul Cathetral

with its golden roof (most of the members of the Romanov Dynasty are buried here)

Russian spacecraft museum

just next to entrance to the Peter the Paul fortification

Hermitage Museum

(Winter Palace in the background)

Palace Square and the Alexander Column

View from the court of the Winter palace

Inside the court

Staircase leading to part of the huge Hermitage collection

and many exhibited items from different cultures and countries (e.g. Egypt, Siberia, Asia)

Free entrance for students!

Chapel of the Winter Palace (Hermitage)

Church of the Savior on Blood

Museum of old Soviet style arcade machines

Many of these are still working...

... like this black and white photo printer...

... that football table... 

... and this basketball game!

Bowling back in the days

Other machines: Submarine shooting, deer hunting, flying planes... etc. 

What you get for 320 Rubles in a cantine in the city centre

(320 Rubles =  3,70 €)
(Of course in Omsk it was cheaper!
You often have the feeling that you pay a premium price just because of the sake of being in St. Petersburg

Farbarge Museum  

Farbarge silver ware

First Farbarge egg 

A present from the Tsar to his wife to celebrate Easter

Like the chocolate eggs from "Kinder", many of these eggs feature some gadgets 

In this picture: a small copy of a coach, featuring full suspension, opening doors, moving wheels and steering

One of the few eggs where without "toys", but with pictures of the Tsar's family andpaintings of important events

Other Russian accessories for the rich 

One of the great Café's in the city centre on Nevski Street... 

... well actually it is a tourist trap, but worth a short visit for looking at these wonderful food and drinks