So where were we….? And let this be a lesson to make sure you keep going with the momentum that you have, since otherwise you might end up like this post and be “in the queue” for an inordinately long period of time. On the plus side, memory recall is very strong and these photos always get the juices flowing again. Having had a good night sleep we decided to take full advantage of our first full day in Saint Petersburg. Logically we then went and hit up the streets. 
We’re still being blown away by the ornateness of these buildings. 
Here is a group of workers painting the ironwork on the bridge. Unlike Moscow, there are very few symbols of communism on the bridge and the decoration is either related to the sea or is meant to look like something fancy. 
With all the canals, one could think you’re in Amsterdam. 
More of the symbolism on the ironwork. 
After much walking we finally made it towards one of our major destinations for the day, as it peeks out in the distance. (queue the Tetris music) 
This city is truly unbelievable. Gold colored and complex work everywhere. Apparently here, this is “normal”. 
A pathways towards our destination. 
On the way, this was one of the most ingenious things I’ve seen in a while. Rather than having a cop stand out in the middle of traffic and control it by hand, why not manually control the light from the safety of the sidelines?
Just a park we passed… with a dock on a canal. And a small shed (for lack of a better term). 
Part of a birdhouse series we found. We were speechless. 
Then deaf. 
And then we stumbled about blindly for a bit. 
But when we removed our eyes we finally came to our destination, the Church of the Spilled Blood. 
Oh, and we saw this grandma and her grandchild, or at least we assume it was grandma. 
Ah here we go! Not a job I would envy, cleaning the mosaic tiles and all, but someone has to do it I guess. 
We took this composite of the front of the Church of the Spilled Blood here. 
Catherine the Great was not so impressed by our photo taking it seemed. 
This was one of the golden eagles on the top of the spire.
We were able to get inside, which was amazing. The inside of this place is 8000 square meters of mosaic tile.
I am not sure how exactly to describe the awe-inspiring art that was present within the church. I think the photos will just speak for themselves…
Roof shot – at least 100 feet up
One of the ornate chandeliers
Another shot taken from looking up.
A side altar
A composite of Alicia under one of the large columns. It sort of puts things into perspective.
Up close of a side altar, this is also all mosaic.
Here is the actual central alter. It is a door that opens to a room where the priests do some part of the service behind closed doors (preparation of the host maybe?)
The number of gemstones on that door is incomprehensible…
If you study imagery in church art-work at all and are mainly familiar with Catholic and Protestant imagery, take note of the next collection of images. Leesh was stunned because she has never seen so many representations of the women from the Bible in all her church and cathedral visiting. Something she noted among all of the Russian Orthodox churches in our travels.
Mary visiting her cousin Mary during their pregnancies.
Mary being attacked by deathrays. Or so I figure. (Alicia’s note: Or the day when the Angel Gabriel said “Fear Not” and gives Mary news of bearing the Son of God)
Up close of her foot.
More deathrays…
An example of the restoration that needed to occur after the fall of the USSR to where it is today.
Composite of the altar of the church.
This is part of the canopy over where the whole creation of this church began. So a bit of a history lesson. In short, when the Tsar, Alexander II was in power someone tried to kill him with a bomb. In the process he was “mortally wounded” (but survived…) and some of his blood was spilled on the ground. In response – this canopy, and ultimately the church was built.
Composite of the ceiling.
(Alicia’s note: probably the coolest Assumption of Mary images I’ve seen)
After an hour or so inside we headed off, enjoying the building’s exterior.
Outside there was buskers, complete with moneys
drums
and somewhat questionable cars.
A distance shot of the church. The neat part is to look at the canal, and the out-cropping that has occurred. This was done to make room for the church.
We headed off for our next meeting with a guide and passed some neat work on the way.
Part of the Singer sewing machine building
Our other destination for the day – tea with a local. Now, you would think… tea? really? Tea here is more of an event, involving dumplings and a whole host of delicious food. It was amazing to have her invite us into her house. She used to be a school teacher and loved to travel. Her apartment was full of really old books and plates from around the world. It was a delight to be able to share this experience with her and teach her a bit of Canada 🙂
Once we left, we wandered back towards the hotel, hitting up some back alley markets.
Admittedly, they were a bit weird, although this was towards the end of the day, so that may explain why it looks incomplete.
One of the doors leading out of the alleys.
We made our way back towards the hotel, passing some gorgeous buildings along the way.
We passed the statue of Catherine the Great
We did stop at this corner for a bit to try and throw up coins onto the platform. Alicia was successful right away, and I took a few tries.
Here some kids were playing with this giant granite ball on the fountain. It is oddly fun to spin.
Some of the statues on the building
We found this outside one of the stores.
A gate with some neat metalwork.
Going past the gate showed a courtyard
We had heard that we needed to try a Georgian restaurant while here, so we found one and made our way there passing a painter on the way. 
After getting slightly lost, we did find it.
We greatly enjoyed a delicious meal… soo good! We fell in love with their lemonade which is lemonade as you would know it, plus bubbly water and tarragon. We liked it so much that we now make it at home (often with gin for good measure). Other food included an amazing flat bread with cheese baked on it, tomato salad, lamb kabobs, tea, and some sort chickpea patty. Georgian food is truly amazing and flavourful as it historically has sat on the spice route and so has been able to incorporate a world of spices into the cuisine. It was funny in St Petersburg – we kept asking for a Georgian restaurant and the locals would turn their noses up (yeah political conflict/war a few years ago!) but it seems everyone eats Georgian food because there are many many Georgian restaurants around. Kind of like everyone turning their noses up at McDonald’s because they don’t want to like it, but really they do.
Rails Across the Curtain 
