29/01/2012 St. Petersburg, Russia

We set off down Nevsky Prospekt after a slowish start to the day. It was -15 degrees and fairly cloudy and snowy. We walked down to the Winter Palace and went inside to the Hermitage museum which was amazing, had a huge Egyptian display, art from all different countries (except Australia!) and amazing sections of palace too (gold walls and amazing painted ceilings etc). We saw Monet, Picasso etc, ancient Asian and Siberian relics, mummies from Egypt, tree graves and all sorts of amazing things! We spent about 3 hours wandering through the museum then walked back down Nevsky Prospekt to the Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood which was amazing, inside was full of gold mosaic everywhere. We explored a nearby souvenir market and bought some magnets and post cards then went to Tepemok – a fast food store with traditional Russian cuisine. We had borsch (traditional beetroot soup, with sour cream and bacon) and pancakes – all very tasty! Great day – St. Petersburg is amazing!

River crossings walking back down Nevsky Prospekt

River crossings walking back down Nevsky Prospekt 

Walking back down Nevsky Prospekt 

The Kazan cathedral 

This church was turned into a swimming pool - on Nevsky Prospekt 

A side street off Nevsky Prospekt 

River crossings walking back down Nevsky Prospekt 

The winter palace and Hermitage

The winter palace and Hermitage

The winter palace and Hermitage

Inside the winter palace (The Hermitage)

Inside the winter palace (The Hermitage)

Inside the winter palace (The Hermitage)

The view out the window of the winter palace (The Hermitage)

The view out the window of the winter palace (The Hermitage)

The winter palace (The Hermitage)

Andrea, Chris and I outside the winter palace 

The winter palace (The Hermitage)

The winter palace 

The winter palace 

The winter palace 

Crossing more icey rivers along the Nevsky Prospekt 

The swimming pool church on Nevsky Prospekt

The Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood

The gardens around The Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood

Inside the Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood 

The Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood

The Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood

The Church of the Saviour our Spilled Blood