 1 July 24th, 2010 I had booked our flights such that we would meet up at Frankfurt airport in the lounge! |
 2 July 25th, 2010 Moscow Triumphal Gates erected (1834-38) for the Russian victory over Turkey in 1828. Just outside our hotel. |
 3 July 25th, 2010 Trinity Cathedral (aka Troitsky Cathedral). Built between 1828-35; restored 2006-07. Part of the Saint Petersvurg World Heritage Site since 1990. |
 4 July 25th, 2010 St Isaac's Cathedral (built 1818-58), largest Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the city; now serves as a museum. |
 5 July 25th, 2010 Stairs to the Colonnade of St Isaac's Cathedral. |
 6 July 25th, 2010 View over St Isaac's Square from the Colonnade. |
 7 July 25th, 2010 Trinity Cathedral from the Colonnade. |
 8 July 25th, 2010 Hermitage Museum from the Colonnade. |
 9 July 25th, 2010 Interior of St Isaac's Cathedral. |
 10 July 25th, 2010 The dome of St Isaac's Cathedral. |
 11 July 25th, 2010 Interior of St Isaac's Cathedral. |
 12 July 25th, 2010 In front of the Hermitage Museum. We visited it 2 days later. |
 13 July 25th, 2010 Dome of St Isaac's Cathedral. |
 14 July 25th, 2010 Griboedov Canal. Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (aka Cathedral of the Ressurection of Christ) in the background. |
 15 July 25th, 2010 Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. Built between 18831-1907. |
 16 July 25th, 2010 The Cathedral harks back to medieval Russian 'Romantic Nationalism' architecture. |
 17 July 25th, 2010 Enjoying Russian filet mignon (very yummy and about half the price of imported meat) at our hotel. |
 18 July 26th, 2010 Trinity Cathedral. |
 19 July 26th, 2010 Domes of Trinity Cathedral. |
 20 July 26th, 2010 Naval Cathedral of St Nicholas. |
 21 July 26th, 2010 Time for a rest. |
 22 July 26th, 2010 Mondriaan anyone? |
 23 July 26th, 2010 The Bronze Horseman: statue of Peter the Great on the Thunder Stone (sometimes claimed to be the largest stone ever moved by man - 1,250t). |
 24 July 26th, 2010 Nevsky Prospekt (Boulevard), St Petersburg's main thoroughfare and most famous (shopping) street. |
 25 July 26th, 2010 Building detail on Nevsky Prospekt. |
 26 July 26th, 2010 Coffee stop on Nevsky Prospekt. |
 27 July 26th, 2010 Relaxing in the bar of our hotel (Holiday Inn). |
 28 July 27th, 2010 Lining up to get into the Hermitage Museum. |
 29 July 27th, 2010 Flemish Tapestries in the Hermitage. |
 30 July 27th, 2010 Flemish painters in the Hermitage. The total lack of climate control made me cringe though: there was a heatwave, it was humid and everywhere windows were open... |
 31 July 27th, 2010 Palace rooms in the Hermitage. |
 32 July 27th, 2010 Palace rooms in the Hermitage. |
 33 July 27th, 2010 Palace rooms in the Hermitage. |
 34 July 27th, 2010 Palace rooms in the Hermitage. |