The Hermitage? What? Yes, I've been to the 2nd largest Museum in the WORLD!!!

Priviet!! So today I woke up and when I left the apartment and walked outside, the first thing I noticed was the SUN in the BLUE sky!!! I love love love it!!!! We were off to the Metro to go downtown. The first place Sveta (our tourguide) took us was Victory Square...We learned all about the History of St Petersburg and what happened During WWII. It was really really sad to hear about what the people went through. Then it was called Leningrad, and the population was about 2 million people. When the war ended and the Blockade was no more, there were less than 1 million people left in the city. They had no electricity, no heating, no water, and pretty much no food. Sveta says that that is the reason why the Russians look so unhappy and don't smile very often. (I think its because they don't have God in thier lives....) Anyway I wont bore you with the depressing stories! It was really cool though, they built a memorial and a museum just for the people that died.


AH!!! Look at the sky!




This is one of the statues of that they have made of the people that were in the city during the blockade!


This is the soldier and the worker...they got through the blockade together!

I just had to take this picture!! THE SUN is in it!!! This is one of the streets that is lined with trees leading away from the memorial, this city is beautiful!

We then left the Memorial Museum and took the Metro to the Center of town. This road is Nevsky Prospect and this is the Book Store right across from the metro!! I love it! After this we bought our train tickets for Moscow next week! yay!

This is the Kazan Cathedral and it is Beautiful, its a copy of the Italian and Greek buildings! Its right across from the Library! Wish you could all see it! Are you jealous of me?

Yeah I know! This is the Church of the Resurrection. (The Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood) I had no idea that I was going to see it! We turned around after buying our train tickets and there it was!! Ah I can't wait till we get to go there for real! This was taken right before we turned down the side street. This place is amazing!

This is my favorite place in Russia so far!! Palace Square. This is the Winter Palace and it is now part of the Hermitage Museum. This is where the Czar's would live with their families during the winter. Yes, Anastasia lived here and they were arrested in this very Palace!! I stood in the same room!! It was so amazing!! Usually it is expensive to go inside, but we get to go in for free because of our University cards!!! yeah baby!

Branda and I, just freakin out that we were actually here! (We keep saying "We're in freakin St. Petersburg, Russia"...we still can't believe it! oh and sorry for the 'freakin' word, dad. hehe)

A video that I took while walking in the courtyard before actually going inside!! I love the colors there, it makes you smile especially when you are used to cold and gray!

OH you know, we had to dance in the Ballroom!! Its tradition!

we just snapped a shot while walking up the Grand Staircase!! :)

The ceilings are AMAZING!!! I think I've said it before, but you really can't say it enough right...I'll probably say it again, because they dont forget any part of a room when it comes to art here in St Petes. (the ceilings win)

This door was Beautiful!! It reminded me of you, Mom! I don't know why, but then I made Holly take a pic of me by it so I could show you!! There was so much detail, you would love it!

This is the room where the Czars just sat on their throwns and watched people dance! hehe and I was there!

Look out St. Pete's the knights are here.... we might decide to charge at any time!

ha, we had to imitate at least one statue! They are all beautiful, but why did this artist decide to sculpt this? Do they just look at their huge block of stone and say "I think I'll draw women all over eachother?" Its soooo weird, but pretty in a way!! We saw sooo much art and some original Davinci pieces, it was a really neat experience! I will definitely be going back because we didn't even touch 1/4 of that place!!

Did you know that if you went to the Hermitage for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, and looked at each individual piece of art for just 30 seconds....it would take you 8 YEARS to see everything!! ah, now you can imagine how bid it is!!

St. Petersburg is amazing, there is so much to see and do, and everything is beautiful!! I will post again soon!! I love you all! Dasvidanya!