Saint Petersburg: Day 1

I got on the cruise ship for a second day.  Neeme was native to Tallinn so naturally he was not there anymore.  I spent the time on the ship just loitering around and watching some performances.

The cruise ship docked at Vasilievsky Island where it houses the ferry terminal and customs checkpoint.  The customs officers took a really long look at me to make sure that I am who I am! Probably due to my unique facial features.  Anyway, Sergey was really nice enough to accompany me to the Sportinaya metro station where I am supposed to me my first couch host, Anastasia.  She lives in a very historical part of St Petersburg which is about 300 years old and I have the picture to prove it!  It looks really cosy there.

The main hallway of Anastasia's apartment she shares with two other people.

Stairs go up to five floors, where we stayed.

Totally frozen river! Amazing!  I tried to walk on it but the ice cracked.

There is some kind of a festival going on near St Peter and Paul fortress

Ice fishing

View from the river banks.

Side view of the fortress

Inside the fortress.  There are a number of very interesting museums  displaying the history of St Petersburg and its residents.

Inside the Peter and Paul cathedral

I think its a model of how the early settlers lived.

A map made of fabric.  Trade routes linking the city and the Black sea.

This is a prison cell.  Looks way bigger than my hostel room.

A communication technique the prison inmates use.

The prison hallway.

Yeah. Artillery.

Map of the moon.

Mars within 10 years?

Sputnik

Nice.  Rocket engines.

This satellite looks like a bee.

Can someone translate this for me? The earth is the cradle of mind, but you cannot always live in a cradle - Thanks Assel

The Hermitage.

So I spend another 4 hours inside the Hermitage.  It is a huge collection of paintings, sculptures and gold and silver utensils? Well, I saw gold or gold plated wine coolers, forks, knives, etc.  Anyway, the following pictures are the ones I was allowed to take.

On the first night, my couch host brought me along to listen to an orchestra her mother played.  It was really nice and I really find the conductor really funny.  The way he walks, smiles or shakes hands.

This painting of a cat is so amazingly real!

Hope you guys like my cooking.