White Nights and Rain in St. Petersburg

St. Isaac's Cathedral

As the ship docked in St. Petersburg it was raining - and cold.  Who would have believed it was midsummer?  Fortunately, by the time our coach was on its way taking us on a city tour, the rain had stopped.

I don't care where you live, but when it comes to traffic you ain't seen nothing like it as in Russia's second city.  Although there is a cheap and efficient underground system Russians love their cars and in St. Petersburg parking is free.  That includes double and triple parking.  Add to that it was a Friday - the most popular day for weddings so lots of brides and beautifully decorated stretch limos.  It was also Graduation so difficult to tell which stretch limos were which.  To say nothing of the fact that there was a political conference taking place which meant some roads were closed.

The Hermitage

White nights?  The nights over midsummer when it doesn't get dark.  In St. Petersburg there is always a festive feel and in the square in front of The Hermitage, on 21st June, a huge concert is held.  So we saw the preparations - not on the tour schedule.

Church of the Saviour
on the Spilled Blood

All credit to our driver who managed to negotiate the traffic and sometimes found places to stop so that we could take photos.  Of course we didn't get to see all of the locations on our agenda but that and the murky weather are a great excuse to pay another visit - but not in midsummer.

What did we see - apart from The Hermitage?  The exteriors of St. Isaac's Cathedral (and its dome from a distance), the Church of the Saviour on the Spilled Blood with its colourful domes, the Peter and Paul Fortress with its Cathedral.  This is where many Tsar's and Tsarina's are buried.

St Peter and St. Paul Cathedral

Whichever city I visit there always seems to be restoration work being carried out.  St. Petersburg is no exception.  As President Putin is from this city a lot of money is available for this important work.  I understand that some of the oligarchs are also being encouraged to spend their money on projects!

Between the weather, overcrowding and there being so much more to see in St. Petersburg another visit is definitely called for - hopefully next year.