It's snowing in St Petersburg

and it's just beautiful. This is the beginning of the journey...



Tallinn railway station, trying to feel all Anna Karenina but it's just not cutting it.


And this treasure...



sits on the mantlepiece in my hotel. I've put him in because he relates to my previous post.


I haven't seen any jewellery yet but I've only been here one day and my Hermitage visit starts tomorrow.

The city is beautiful and romantically so. There are so many beautiful palaces and grand drives and vistas - parts of it remind me of up-town 5th avenue, New York. But most of the city is also in such a state of decay that it has a Blade Runner-esque feel to it as well.



Canal view


I visited the kunstkamera or 'museum of ethnology and anthropology' which contains the original collection from Peter the Great's wunderkamera. Lots of examples of "monsters": deformed babies and small animals in cylindrical jars of formaldehyde, skeletons of siamese twins and a stuffed 2 headed calf, it was quite unnerving. Peter set it up to educate his citizens and enticed them there by serving free vodka, no such luck for me.




And I found this kit for making artificial flowers in the 'history of St Petersburg' museum.




And I just love all the beautful tools.




And now for the obligatory tourist shot. Me and Peter the Great! According to Lonely Planet, it's good luck to fondle his right index finger.




I'll probably post again before I leave here. I'm in love with this city.

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