I'm on the way to Murmansk again. I'm taking a different and shorter route this time. No need to fly via Moscow when I have nothing there to do. Today I'm traveling alone all the way, without my Russian colleague. It's somewhat more difficult, I'll admit, to get from the international terminal to the domestic terminal,by bus, finding the right check-in desk, getting through the security. Some language problems, but I made it, by a mix of English and body language, and the five Russian phrases I know.
Right now I'm in transit in this fabulous city, built by Peter the Great in the 18th century, on the swamps by the Finnish Bay. It was the capital of Russia for 200 years, untill the last Tsar, and his family, were killed by the communists in 1917. The city has been known by several names, Petrograd,Leningrad, and now, St Petersburg. I call it Dostoyevsky City.
The first time I was here was in 1990, at the dawn of the Soviet Empire. I got to see all the major sights; the Winter Palace, St Isaac's Cathedral, the Russian Museum, with the famous paintings by Ilya Repin (Ivan the Terrible Kills his Son, Barge Haulers on the Volga), the Dostoyevsky Museum, and Nevsky Prospect. The latter is the main street, where Raskolnikov was walking in his anguish and pain after killing the money lender (Crime and Punishment).
The Dostoyevsky Museum is in Kuznechny Street. It's in his apartment where he lived, a major part of his life, except when he was in prison in Siberia, or forced to serve as a soldier in the Army. It's the place where he wrote many of his great works. Very interesting to see, for a Dostoyevksy fans, and worth a visit if you come to St Petersburg.
Today I'm only in transit for a couple of hours. My plane to Murmansk is departing in 45 minutes. I hope I get the chance to visit this city again soon. Like Moscow, St Petersburg has changed alot in the last 20 years.
The only remnant of the Soviet era is the airport code, which is still LED, for Leningrad >:)
(It's St Petersburg in the background. I took the picture right before landing at the Pulkova Airport, after fasten seat belt signs were on. Not allowed, but I just switched my camera on for a couple of seconds.)
I'm so jealous! I would love to travel to Russia someday.
ReplyDeleteI saw a special recently on St. Petersburg - amazing place.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in your five Russian phrases, hehe.
ReplyDeleteChemical Fusion
I would love to go. They say it's a beautiful city!
ReplyDeleteLydia: It's a very interesting country
ReplyDeleteAlex: Yes, it is, and the most I amazing things are the Faberge gold eggs that the Tsar family gave each other for presents
Enid: Four of them are standard. The fifth is only for special purpose >;)
Matthew: It's a very beautiful and interesting city, and a historical record of the insane wealth of the Russian Tsars. It wasn't just random that the communist revolution took place in Russia.
It's crazy how many great Russians went to Siberia, exiled to the Gulag. At least incredible writing came of it.
ReplyDeleteSome day... Russia. ;)
Jayne: Dostoyevsky was sentenced to death for intellectual activities that the Tsar found suspect. While waiting for the execution squad, the sentence was suddenly changed to 4 years in a labor camp in Siberia.
ReplyDeleteit's really late here, and i'm tired. i just read your post and enjoyed it but i can't think of anything interesting to add, so this will have to do... :)
ReplyDeleteid: I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you got some good sleep >:)
ReplyDelete