Welcome to the City of Rain and History: How I traveled to Saint Petersburg

Hello!
I'd like to tell you a story about city of rain, mystery and history - Saint Petersburg and what interesting you can find here. Hope, you will read it till the end:)

Trip to Saint Petersburg always was my dream. When an airplane took off, I was excited. The flight lasted only an hour and a half. The sun was shining above the clouds, but below the sky was grey and heavy.

The airport is very beautiful and modern, all instructions are duplicated in English and in some places in Chinese.

To get to the city, you need bus 39, which goes to Underground. The impression from the tube is as you get into the pompous museum. It is less than in Moscow, but not least. The stations are much deeper and very beautiful, without USSR symbolic, full of mosaic panels and decoration details. In the center of the platform was the map with names of stations in both English and Russian. In addition, here are safe doors without platform that open right in front of the coach doors.

When we went out from the tube into the street, it started raining slightly.

We went to Turgenevskaya square by bus, the houses around impressed by their stucco and decoration. However, in a length of streets, the houses turned out to be much shabbier. There were no gullies; water flew down right on the walls mixing up with paints.

We entered into arch between two paradnye.
Outside

Inside

It was dark and dirty with lonely lamp near the metal door and holes with chippings in asphalt. We entered into the inner yard well and then to our paradnaya.

There was old tiles with floral ornament and nabless carpet, tall ceiling, giant wide windows with wooden frames and ornate metal stair railings with twirls. There were only 6 stages in the building, but it felt like to conquer a skyscraper. To the front wall fastened a tiny elevator. Hardly two people without luggage can ride together. Here was a strong smell of cat piss.

The flat was different by style to the house itself: white and causy in compliance with the weather in the street with wide windowsills and pillows to seat on.

Also there was a surprise. A window in the kitchen was pasted, and when we opened it – found an inner light well.

However, there was no time to seat at home. We decided to start our tour from shopping and walking into the city. Saint Petersburg is full of Vintage things and antique salons. We went to the shop Antresol with very talkative owner but interesting things from European flea markets.


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We watched through lots of tiny and big cases, purses, bags , old leather shoes and felt hats, but found nothing for us. And ride to the next point in the list – shop Off. If you need something old-fashioned but in great price – look for it here. The district of Obvodnoy channel is much more industrial even here Alekseevski palace is located.

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Old prerevolution buildings interlace with factories. Not surprising that Obvodnoy channel is famous as place for suicide.

One more place you should visit is local flea market. We went to the biggest one, called Ydelnaya. Here you can find everything from old guitars and chandeliers to prerevolutionary clothes and jewelry.

Here are some of our findings. Old hat – is SPB must have!

Next point was Nevsky prospect. Is if full of sightseeings on each step.

1. Zinger house. Now here is a 3-stage bookshop and café, but the prices are like in a restaurant. Here you can find beautiful postcards and magnets. To get to a roof you can only in excursion, 1500 rubles, and other way you can beat a guard.
   

2. Kazanski sobor. It still works as a church. Here you can find a famous icon and really royal interior. In front of it is situated a beautiful garden with fountain.
   
   
   

3. Elyseevski shop: It is the shop of merchant brothers Eliseevy, who came from a line of peasants and by their wit could save a fortune. Here you can find the most delicious and strange products: from black caviar and rare wines to green cherry. The atmosphere is very posh and celebrating. Here is a piano that plays itself.
   

4. Also here are situated a Swedish home and summer book alleys.
   
   
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5.Petrikirche has one of the most beautiful and biggest organs, every week here take places concerts.

6.In addition, here you can find Anichkov Bridge with four statues of men with horses made by Klodt.
At the beginning, you can find signs from bombs during the blockade of the city on granite.

In the evening dashing bikers offer you to ride along the prospect.

Next part will be about paradnye of different houses.