Maze: St. Petersburg

IMPERIAL RUSSIA

PETER THE GREAT FOUNDED AND DESIGNED THE SECOND LARGEST CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG IN 1703 AND MADE IT THE CAPITAL OF RUSSIA.  It ranked as the fifth largest city in  Europe.  Construction began 1703 and the city eventually spread over 100 islands linked by 700 bridges.  It suffered severe damage during the revolution of 1917 and later during World War II, when a cruel 900-day siege claimed more than half a million victims. 

When Russia went to war against Germany in 1914, the name was changed to Petrograd, which means Peter's City.  The Russians did this to get rid of the German ending "burg." When Lenin died in 1924, the Soviet Communist government changed the name for the third time to Leningrad.

Leaving Helsinki behind, glimpses of the magnificent eastern Lake Region on the way to Lappeenranta at the head of the waterways.  Crossing the frontier to Vyborg, the old trading center between the merchants of Novgorod and Karelian hunters.  After a noon lunch in Vyborg, continuing on by traversing the Karelian Isthmus, the land between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga reaching St. Petersburg in late afternoon.


Neva River

Russian Battleship Aurora

Most of the city is on the southern bank of the Neva River.  About 120 bridges that cross narrow canals connect the various parts of the city.  The principal avenue is the Nevsky Prospect, 130 feet wide and about 4 miles long of: Imperial Library (renamed Public Library), Alexander Theater (now the Kirov Theater), fashionable stores, nigthclubs and old (Singer Sewing Machine Factory) and new company offices.

We enjoyed our Neva River evening cruise with gypsy dancers and singers entertaining us while sipping or drinking vodka and caviar . 

I bought a lot of Matrioska dolls, some ambers and small imitation of Faberge eggs.

The Winter Palace was the official residence of the Tsars.  It was built in a baroque style between 1754 and 1762 and was the largest royal palace in the world.  It is now the extension of the Hermitage Museum, famed for its masterpieces of Rembrandt, Raphael, Titian, Da Vinci, Picasso, Monet and many classic painters.  Photos are not allowed but for a fee of $6 you can take them.

The last Tsar to occupy it was Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra and their 5 children.  They were murdered during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.  Their bodies were entombed at SS Peter and Paul Fortress.

When the Communist government took power, it moved the capital to Moscow and Leningrad declined.  The Russians began to redevelop the city in 1924.  The Red Army defended the city against the Germans during the 900 day siege - from October 1941 to January, 1944.  The Russians held out, another defeat for the Germans.  During the siege, national treasures such as paintings were carefully wrapped and hidden. 

Tsar's Throne

Imperial limousine

Road to Imperial Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMUfZ0VwiHg 00:46

Globus-ing in Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTnuAe7Lt1w 00:55

Catherine's Palace was being painted and renovated for the city's 300th anniversary celebration

Yusopov Palace: Czarina Alexandra's favorite adviser and diehard dude Rasputin as invited guest

Folk dancers dancing at a Neva River cruise; caviar and vodka, anyone?

900-day seige memorial of St. Petersburg by the Germans in 1941

I almost missed the Swan Lake performance by the Kirov ballet.  I thought I checked the optional tour but I forgot and did not.  Thanks to Tania, our able and capable local guide, I still got a nice seat at the Mariinsky Theatre.  Simply beautiful!

Video: http://youtu.be/9rJoB7y6Ncs

Matrioshka dolls of my all-time favorite President George W. Bush and past American presidents

Internet Publication:

6/14/10  lib's labyrinth
2/1/03    ALT  MSN Group