{"id":3818,"date":"2017-07-17T21:40:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-18T04:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/?p=3818"},"modified":"2017-07-18T21:24:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-19T04:24:59","slug":"elbrus-st-petersburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2017\/07\/elbrus-st-petersburg\/","title":{"rendered":"Elbrus: St Petersburg"},"content":{"rendered":"

The top of Europe is in Russia, in the Caucasus, between the Caspian and Black Seas.<\/p>\n

I’m climbing it with IMG, guided by Mike Hamill. I hope to complete my goal of climbing the Seven Summits before my 50th birthday. Let’s see how this goes.<\/p>\n

First, we have to get there. Starting in St. Petersburg seems auspicious. I’ve never been here. It is beautiful.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The streets of St Petersburg are reminiscent of Paris.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Very Parisian.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
We prepare for a fun day of seeing the sights.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Catherine the Great built this as a nunnery… then changed her mind when it was done. It was used instead as a concert hall for many years.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Fancy concert hall….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
I love the pyramid and eye in this fresco.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Today it is being revived as a living church, as originally intended.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lots of renovation happening inside.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Really? No roller blades… TWICE? Is this really necessary…?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
This subway stop was built inside a church… as religion was banned in the Soviet era.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Some of the tickey counters were converted from confessionals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Evidence of Soviet branding were everywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
100 meter deep stations accommodate the City’s many rivers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Very impressive subway stops. The system was completed in 1955, I believe the year my father visited here with his family.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Lenin in the lead… Stalin over his shoulder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
This mosaic paints a happy portrait of Soviet life….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Outside the station, women sell wild fruit from the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Dostoevsky.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Finery on the facade of a candy shop on Nevsky Prospect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Crazy fun shop, full of amazing treats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
On the Neva River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Rostrums, memorializing naval victories.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Closeup of a Rostrum bowsprit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
A cathedral in the Fort.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Susan and Alison are having fun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A lovely cathedral we entered, still in use.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Some traditions must adapt to keep up with the times.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Pete and Fred overlooking the river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Ross contemplates the water.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
John and the Neva.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Ravi and Steve.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
“Griffon, Griffon, give me a million.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
The Spilled Blood Cathedral, memorializing the assassination of Alexander II.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Yep, the sun is coming out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Beautiful surrounding gardens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Double-Headed eagles are everywhere, symbol of the old Russian empire.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
This sign may have been put up after an incident involving potato juice. Just a guess…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Palace Square. The column at center celebrates their victory over Napoleon. It is carved from a single piece of granite. Biggest on Earth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Detail and precision of stunning quality on massive caryatids at the entry to the Hermitage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Yes, that will be our boat. Yes, it is sketchy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Very, very sketchy….<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
But totally fun and beautiful.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
One of my favorite domes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
They sang happily under the bridges, with great acoustics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
I like this spire a lot, especially the top finial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Pelican pulling down from its breast to feed blood to its young. Symbol of christ, and also the Pottinger symbol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Over 300 bridges in the city. This one made of cast iron modules bolted together. about 3 inches of headroom.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Much too much to see in this fabulous city! I will have to come back with my beautiful family for a proper immersion. For now: Dinner, sleep, then a short tour again tomorrow before we head to the airport and fly to Mineral Vody, gateway to the Caucasus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The top of Europe is in Russia, in the Caucasus, between the Caspian and Black Seas. I’m climbing it with IMG, guided by Mike Hamill. I hope to complete my goal of climbing the Seven Summits before my 50th birthday. Let’s see how this goes. First, we have to get there. Starting in St. Petersburg … Continue reading Elbrus: St Petersburg<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3798,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tourism","expedition-elbrus-2017"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nElbrus: St Petersburg - OSM Adventures<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pottinger.net\/osm\/2017\/07\/elbrus-st-petersburg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Elbrus: St Petersburg - OSM Adventures\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The top of Europe is in Russia, in the Caucasus, between the Caspian and Black Seas. 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