Nevsky Prospekt

St. Petersburg

The sun illuminates the pastel coloured palaces along Nevsky Prospekt.
The onion domes of the city's Church of Spilled Blood flash.

A day ago it was snowing and there are plenty of reminders - hazardous, icy footpaths, parks piled knee deep in snow as well as frozen over canals.

This sunny day, however, stretches well into the night. It is 9pm and only now the evening draws in and the temperature drops.

The day started with Russian champagne served at breakfast followed by a much anticipated audience with Malevich & Co. at the Mikhalovsky Palace.

Room after room of brilliant art and you abruptly come face to face with a portrait of Ahkmatova, elongated, angular and regal.

We loop back via the banks of the Neva so we can catch a glimpse of the Peter and Paul Fortress across the ice.

Now almost delirious with fatigue we suddenly find ourselves alone in the vast expanse of Winter Palace Square.

You expect a crowd demanding Land, Bread and Liberty to come out of nowhere or else witness the storming of the place. No chance...the Russians are too busy shopping along the Nevsky Prospekt.

Mayakovsky in the metro as we move with the masses up the escalator and back towards our hotel.

Posted with Blogsy