saint petersburg day 2

Let me continue with my Saint Petersburg trip!
Our second day started not very early, cause on the first day, after all formal events we also had a party - Moscow and Saint Petersburg astronomers, that was cool!
I had a "list" of things I wanted to visit at Saint Petersburg since my last visit there. Well, didn't manage everything I wanted, but now I have a reason to come back!

The main aim was to visit Saint Isaac's Cathedral, cause the last time it was already closed. It is one of the highest building at the city centre, and the view from it's colonnade is amazing! There I have to mention that I have a light form of agoraphobia, it's when you are scared if wide-open spaces. For me it also includes phobia of height, I feel vertigo every time I am on a high floor, and have to wait about ten minutes to calm down. But I really wanted to visit the colonnade, there are no elevators, so you have to take about 200 steps by small spiral stairs and then have to take open stairs right to the colonnade - that was so scary for me! I told my friend Tigran that if I'll start to fall down, he must be ready to catch!
View from the colonnade to the square in front of Saint Isaac's Cathedral.

Amazing view on the Vasilyevsky Island and the port! I madly want to visit the port next time I'll be at Saint Petersburg!

Inside Saint Isaac's Cathedral - very beautiful! Also, if you go round it, you can find a place on the stairs with the marks of German projectiles from Second World War.

Our next stop was to visit Kunstkamera, it is the first museum in Russia. Established by Peter the Great and completed in 1727, the Kunstkammer Building hosts the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Inside it is very interesting, but, well, the most interesting part is anotomical - different human abnormalities and rarities. Actually, it is prohibited to take photos there... and I was told it in the beginning but forgot about it. Serious lady from the museum was furious :)

After that we were walking on the Neva river! It was frozen, and ice is so thick that you can almost take a walk from one island to another! That is totally crazy, my agoraphobious brain was mad :) That was not right for it to walk there normally you can't! Also you can see Palace Bridge, which is currently under construction. It's one of that bridges which a drawn by night at summer.

I had to make a proof that we were actually walking on Neva river ice!

After that we just had a meal and headed to the train station, Moscow greated us with a snowstorm and half meter of snow on the roads, ohh... That was a great weekend, can't wait to come to my dream city once more!

saint petersburg day 1

Hello everyone!
Today I've passed my first exam, Numerical Methods. I got an A, but it was totally awful. I'm a neurotic type, and anxious stomach ache is a normal thing before an exam or any other important day for me. Usually I come an hour before an exam actually starts to calm down. Well, today was my own record, cause I felt sick starting from yesterday evening. When it came to asking me, I guess I've scared teacher with my light-green face :) He was very soft and nice with me, like he was afraid I will faint away. Well, everything for the good!

At the end of March I had a weekend-trip to Saint Petersbutg. Except Dubna, Saint Petersburg is my favourite city in the whole Russia. It's old, beautiful, gives you a really special feeling. Also, there are a lot of big and small rivers, water, what I am used to. I love it, although I've been there only once three years ago.
The reason for me to come was an equinox. Astronomers from Moscow State University and asronomers from Saint Petersburg State University are actually friends, and on autumn equinox they meet at Moscow, and on spring one they meet at Saint Petersburg. I am a cosmologist, but actually it's a really close to astronomy branch of physics. I have a lot of friends at astronomy department (including my Polina), so they asked me if I want to go. Of course I do!
We stayed there for two days, first day was some events at the university and second day was just walking and visiting some places I've planned to.


Saturday morning, coming to Saint Petersburg. Russian train, haha! That was not my place, fortunately, but Polina's. While I felt totally warm and slept tight, she had to sleep wearing her coat, omg. Actually, on that weekend weather there was much better than in Moscow! Coming back was a huge disappointment.

S-Pb is a city of wonderful small confectioneries. All different, food is amazing at every one!

Heaven berry tart at Metropol.



Singer house.

Church of the Savior on Blood. Has to be added to my "What-to-visit-at-Saint-Petersburg-next-time" list.

Saint Isaac cathedral. We visited it on Sunday, I'll show it at my next post!

Palace Square, heart of Saint Petersburg. I have no proper photos of Hermitage Museum, but it is just in front if this building. I also have to visit it next time, such a priceless amount of art at one building!

Polina found a nice photo of me at the Saint Petersburg University. There were some events considering equinox - funny traditional stuff, I've enjoyed it a lot - pseudoscientific conference, choosing queen of astronomy (oh yeah!) and others. Also, I've met some awesome people!

At the end of the "program" we had a procession through the forest with fires. It was just like in childhood - snowfights and tobogganing! We were all wet but totally happy!