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George's World Travels
Well,
We've been in St P a few days now and we've seen quite a bit. Yesterday we went to the Yusopov Palace, where a very rich family lived up till the revolution. Its well known as the place where Rasputin was murdered. It was an amazing place besides that though. The Yusopov family like most in St P liked the Eurpean look. Each room was dedicated to another style, French, Italian even Arabic!
The palace was also really interesting coz one of the members of the family loved playing tricks on its guests. For example there was a small room that had 8 doors coming off it with mirrors in each. Some of the doors were real, some false. The guests were expected to know which door led to the room they wanted. There was also a room with a dome shaped bit at the end, which made the acoustics in the room much better. Is thought that this was so the family could hear what the guests were saying, when they were out of the room! There was also a lovely little theatre in the palace as one of the family was a very talented actress.
After the Palace we made a quick detour to see the food market. Quite like Spanish ones, everyhting and anything there. But obviously was inside!
We also went to the Hermitage/Winter Palace yesterday. LOVELY. There was so much snow everywhere, all over the trees and looked so beautiful coming up to the entrance. Saw some amazing pieces of art, and a really fun brass paecock clock that still works. Once a week its turned on, and the peacocks tail spreads out and its eyes flutter.
Today we went to the Church of Spilled Blood. Its built on the place where one of the tsars was assinated. AMAZING!!! absolutely beautiful. So many mosaics everywhere. Really intricate. Ill post some pics up when I get a chance. There really are no words!
We had a quick visit to another Church, an orthodox one, where I felt very self concious as I was the only woman without a head scarf or a hat on. Luckily we didnt stay there too long!
Before goiung back to our hotel we visited the nearby monastry-famous, but cant remember the name! Monks still live and work there, Anna said they are very self sufficient, making their own clothes and food. The Church there is where Alexander Nevsky is now buried. He is like the patron saintof the city. He didnt actually die here, hios bones were moved from another part of Russia. But when Peter the Great founded the city he wanted Nevsky here to 'protect' it as he was a very well known war hero.
Hense the main street in St P = Nevsky Prospekt, where I am now, typing this.
Well, as you may have guessed its pretty cold here at the mo! Went down to -12 yesterday!!! Our hotel is pretty nice, very big so theres restaurants everywhere and even a bowling alley! Our room is ok, bar our green bath water! :)
We have a guide for the toursit sites, her names Anna. Shes really nice, also 4 years ago she spent a year in Mongolia-Ulan Bator-where if you dont already know is where im heading after Moscow. She said she'll try and find some photos of it and where the best places to go are, so that would be cool.
The pic for this postcard is of the inside of the Winter Palace. Very beautiful.
Bye for now,
xxx
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