Saint Petersburg

I had absolutely no idea what we were going to find in Saint Petersburg, and that is the magic of the unexpected.  The opportunity to be blown away. And that is exactly what happened.

There was however a number of factors that contributed to this.  Firstly we met up with my darling parents there. The day we got to spend with them in such a random, yet incredible place, is something that I will never forget. I still get tears when I think of the goodbye moment - the two of them running for a cab back to the harbour waving a million times over and over.  (Tears!)

And then there was Swan Lake. A bucket list item which I honestly thought I'm probably not going to get to in my lifetime. Unfortunately it wasn't the Merinsky theatre (they didn't show Swan Lake that weekend) but the Alexandrinsky was nothing but incredible.  

Then there was the St Isaacs Cathedral.  Lost for words.  My Mom and I both started crying as we walked in there. I felt a holy presence in there that I have never felt in a Cathedral in my life before. And the pictures below does not do it justice at all. 

Church of the Spilled Blood - unbelievable because the entire decor inside consists of Mosaics. I tried to capture it in the pictures. 

The interior of the Winter Palace (now the Hermitage Museum) made us understand the wealth and glory that was the old Saint Petersburg. 

I don't want to write too much, and words will never do it justice.  All I can say is that I have added this City to the top of my favourites list. 

What a wonderful world this is that we live in!