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Published: October 21st 2012
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The train pulled into to St Petersburg station as expected at 5am on my last full day.
The holiday booking agent had warned me that the accommodation in St Peters was not great so I already had low expectations as I arrived at the hotel. Although I was keen to save money on accommodation booking into a young offenders bail hostel probably was not the greatest plan. The security guard greeted me as my driver pushed me reluctantly through the front door. My attention was drawn to a sign on the door "no alcohol on the premises after 11pm". I was given my key to room 306 and headed up the stairs with my rucksack to the fourth floor. I hung my jacket in the Formica wardrobe that was propped up on a folded city map to stop in toppling over. I crawled into my sleeping bag and lay on the bed listening to the whirl of a generator outside on the window sill and went to sleep.
The city was quiet at 10am when I headed out. St Peters has a population of 5 million and is considered the cultural capital of Russia, I could soon see why.
I walked through the well ordered streets and over the bridges that spanned the canals that reflected in the unbroken facades of the 18th and 19th century buildings. The local community were out in force clearing the autum leaves from every open space - all part of the big society!
There are many historic buildings, cathedrals, museums and palaces in St Peters, vastly to many to visit in the short time I had in the city. I was disappointed that I did not have the time to visit the Hygiene Museum or the Museum of Democracy that apparently had few exhibits in any case. The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is partly modelled on St Basil's and was constructed between 1883 and 1907 on the spot where Alexander II was assissinated. Inside the 7000 sq metres of mosaic decoration is truly stunning and worth the visit. St Isaac Catherdral with its gold dome and supported by 40 marble pillars is also a spectacular sight. Covered in clothe during WWII you can see areas that still suffered some damage.
By lunch time the streets were throbbing with people rushing about their business. Walking through the city I
took in more sights, the Winter palace on the banks of the Neva River, the bronze horse (Pushkin) and the countless museums and theatres that are sited in previous royal palaces.
I met the Aussie sisters in the evening for the final time to reflect on our journey and for a farewell dinner. For pre dinner drinks we went to the cocktail bar on the eighth floor of Hotel W to admire the views over the city and to enjoy Russian Vodka cocktails. A great view of probably the best city that I ever visited, sipping the national drink with Alexandra and Ingrid my two Aussie travelling companions.
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