June 21-23, 2012
St. Petersburg
What can I say about Russia? No, really. What CAN I say about Russia? Have you been watching the news lately and seen what's been going on with the Pussy Riot band?
One thing you learn when you travel is that free speech is really only protected in America. So, appreciate it while you have it.
Now, since we visit Russia three days at a time, and I still have three more trips to make here, and since I'm currently using a Russian usb modem to access the Russian internet and tell my story...what can I say about Russia?
I Love Russia! OMG, it's the best country ever. I just can't go on enough about Russia. You know what, I'm just going to tell the rest of my story in pictures. This paragraph may be subject to change in a month when I leave.
I left the computer for a few hours to upload the pictures, and I came back to find this message:
Dear Duke,
Russia is the best country ever? Comedy genius.
fyi- nobody loves russia. Not even russians. Especially not russians.
<3
M
The first thing you'll notice about Russia is the massive amount of red tape.
Here, the Whisper is docked to a concrete pier. Between the sidewalk and the pier however, is a floating customs boat. You have to walk through that if you want to visit Russia.
Unfortunately, to visit Russia, you need a visa.
The only exception is for cruise passengers to have a tour excursion ticket and be escorted by a Russian guide.
I know, you want to play Tetris.
The "onion domes" signify a Russian orthodox church. The inspiration behind this shape is actually the flame of a candle.
Picture prayers ascending to heaven, or rather, the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 8).
The first palace I visited was Pavlovsk Palace in the city of Pushkin.
This was one of the summer homes of Peter the Great.
I love how every time you visit a palace they make you put on either plastic or cloth feeties.
You know, I'd rather wear these in some people's houses instead of having to take my shoes off all the time. You know who you are.
I took this picture mostly so you can see the curvature of the palace just in cast you couldn't tell from the one posted above. Pavlovsk Palace looks like a giant C.
If the Tsars wanted to go to church, they didn't have to go very far. This chapel is one of the many rooms of the palace.
Looking at the palace from the outside, you can always spot the chapel because it will have onion domes adorning that portion of the building. You will notice this several photos down when I show you Catherine's palace.
This picture was taken from the balcony of the chapel looking down.
Every once in a while, you won't be allowed to take photos inside certain rooms. This is the amber room. And yes, there are no photos allowed inside the amber room. Of course, that meant I had to take a picture.
The walls are adorned with Baltic Amber. If you'd like to know what Baltic Amber is, watch Jurassic Park.
Where did Catherine the Great go to church? Probably right there is that part of her house.
There is one big dome and four little ones. They signify Christ and the four evangelists.
Catherine was famous for a certain lifestyle. I'll let you look it up. I wonder if this area of the palace was even used that much.
St. Izaak's Cathedral is probably the only Russian Orthodox cathedral to have a Roman dome. It was build by Peter the Great (I think...I'm doing all this from memory) to basically rival Rome. Like many things in Russia, it's a display of their machismo, as if to say, "Look, we've got one of these too." Like many buildings in Russia, it was severely damaged in the...wars, probably world war II (f#cking Nazis). When they restored St. Izaaks, they decided to leave some of the shrapnel damage in the columns as a memorial. A memorial that I apparently didn't take a picture of.
St. Petersburg
What can I say about Russia? No, really. What CAN I say about Russia? Have you been watching the news lately and seen what's been going on with the Pussy Riot band?
One thing you learn when you travel is that free speech is really only protected in America. So, appreciate it while you have it.
Now, since we visit Russia three days at a time, and I still have three more trips to make here, and since I'm currently using a Russian usb modem to access the Russian internet and tell my story...what can I say about Russia?
I Love Russia! OMG, it's the best country ever. I just can't go on enough about Russia. You know what, I'm just going to tell the rest of my story in pictures. This paragraph may be subject to change in a month when I leave.
I left the computer for a few hours to upload the pictures, and I came back to find this message:
Dear Duke,
Russia is the best country ever? Comedy genius.
fyi- nobody loves russia. Not even russians. Especially not russians.
<3
M
 |
| Floating Customs Boat |
Here, the Whisper is docked to a concrete pier. Between the sidewalk and the pier however, is a floating customs boat. You have to walk through that if you want to visit Russia.
Unfortunately, to visit Russia, you need a visa.
The only exception is for cruise passengers to have a tour excursion ticket and be escorted by a Russian guide.
I know, you want to play Tetris.
The "onion domes" signify a Russian orthodox church. The inspiration behind this shape is actually the flame of a candle.
Picture prayers ascending to heaven, or rather, the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 8).
Russia is obsessed with Egypt.
(I expected nothing less from Magog).
 |
| Pavlovsk Palace in Pushkin |
The first palace I visited was Pavlovsk Palace in the city of Pushkin.This was one of the summer homes of Peter the Great.
I love how every time you visit a palace they make you put on either plastic or cloth feeties.
You know, I'd rather wear these in some people's houses instead of having to take my shoes off all the time. You know who you are.
 |
| Maybe I'm a lion. |
 |
| Chapel inside the palace |
If the Tsars wanted to go to church, they didn't have to go very far. This chapel is one of the many rooms of the palace.
Looking at the palace from the outside, you can always spot the chapel because it will have onion domes adorning that portion of the building. You will notice this several photos down when I show you Catherine's palace.
This picture was taken from the balcony of the chapel looking down.
 |
| Palace of Catherine the Great |
Quick note: Catherine's Palace is massive.
This is just a portion of the front.
It wraps around on both sides.
Every once in a while, you won't be allowed to take photos inside certain rooms. This is the amber room. And yes, there are no photos allowed inside the amber room. Of course, that meant I had to take a picture.
The walls are adorned with Baltic Amber. If you'd like to know what Baltic Amber is, watch Jurassic Park.
 |
| The Culprit |
 |
| Giant room gilded with gold |
There is one big dome and four little ones. They signify Christ and the four evangelists.
Catherine was famous for a certain lifestyle. I'll let you look it up. I wonder if this area of the palace was even used that much.
 |
| St. Petersburg has a lot of statues. |
 |
| St. Izaaks Cathedral |
 |
| St. Izaaks also makes a nice hat. |
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