One Amusing Night in Russian Bars

It's cocktail hour, so I contented myself inside a single nice costume. I dashed to make myself presentable enough by using bare make-up. I was about to have a good time with friends in Russia's hot spots.

We first chilled out in the central, in the elite ambiance of a lounge at the Grand Europe Hotel. The music icon played jazz in a drawn out but sexy way. Aside from this club, there are other entertainment hubs teeming in the nearby arts hub, along with different cultural institutions, theaters, and museums.

After dinner, we moved to a theater in Nevski, where there's a comedy presentation. The show perfectly demonstrates different personalities, including the city sweepers who faithfully clean the streets every morning, the harried civil servants who are late for another council meeting, the nannies who take out their children for a walk, and the upper middle class people who buy pricey goods from Paris.

I must say, the latter show we went to was definitely good. The years have passed, but the original play created during the early part of the century still has worth. The mastermind behind the show is indeed great, despite the march of time. His work continues to be much-awaited in the middle of these fine streets, where we shop, dine, and lounge to see and be seen.

A Capital That Looks Like a Mosaic of Small Islands

You only need to look at the map to know that the city is very much like a mosaic of small islands. Some of these islands are very immense, while others are so small that we may even fear if they really exist. The islands form a scheme of canals connected by dated bridges, which also serve as witness to romantic lovers roaming from one island to another.

Constructed at the far edge of the Gulf of Finland and at the mouth of Neva, the city of St. Petersburg in the country of Russia is besieged with the troubles posed by citizens who live along the different bodies of water. Floods and preservation of natural topography are pressing challenges. This way of life for people is really part of its charisma.

Though St. Petersburg is more like a typical pattern of Amsterdam or Venice, there's no way we can really compare the place to these cities. The charms, geography, and history of St. Petersburg give the place a special sense of personality. The most dazzling sights in this powerful imperial capital are strategically seen beside the rivers. The city sceneries peacefully impose their authority over the waters and picturesque landscape, where residences of czars battle each other in opulence and glory.

Luxurious and Renowned Russian Museum and Artist's Apartment

Museums are abundant in this place, which is ordinarily regarded as the cultural capital of Russia. The most remarkable of all is the Russian Museum, which is situated at the heart of the city. The aforementioned museum is completely dedicated to Russian painting and sculpture, and its collection is housed inside a gleaming monument of imperial architecture.

Even from before, the museum was already a classic and renowned building. A neoclassical palace was created in 1825, when Carlo Rossi designed the surface, similar to the lines of the Louvre. However, at the end of the nineteenth century, the place was transformed into an impressive art gallery, where the emperor-connoisseur Alexander III donated his private collection. The museum underwent physical reconstructions for additional annexes to keep the growing collection.

In the museum, we met a wonderful artist who lives in a very striking art noveau apartment in the central district. When this talented artist, Slava, bought his large apartment six years ago, it was shared by no less than six families. They reconstructed many aspects of the old building, with his wife Lara overseeing the construction project. The moldings and floors were restored to their former elegance, while chimneys and stoves were revived using the modern technology. The house was now transformed into a very pleasing and modish abode for the couple.

Solemn Landscapes of the Town

Gently falling snow from an infinite sky is one of the most solemn scenarios I have ever seen and experienced-- lightweight, almost invisible flakes brushing on your hair and resting quietly on the tiny fibers of your wool sweater. The trees are all in quiet slumber, so it is impossible to imagine that in a few months, the view could change so significantly.

But, anyway, I brush these thoughts aside as I enjoy my moment in a Russian town. The morning is coming so the earth sighs peacefully, overwhelmingly covered by the thick blanket. But, overall, there's nothing to distract my reflections, except for the irregular puff of wind.

I notice that even the flocks of seagulls, notoriously noisy in spring, have all hidden somewhere in nature's refuge, so I decided to visit the still lake where they live. It's almost morning now, and the sun just started saying hello to this sleepy town with its golden rays. Tomorrow, I'll play the usual harmony, like the way I did yesterday.

A newspaper boy with tiny shrill bells on the handlebars of his bike jolted me from my wishful thinking. He looked no more than thirteen years old, and his blushing face looked like the fresh winter daybreak.

Excellent Russian Capital Landscape

You need to have a vigorous sense of determination to even attempt climbing the 262 steps of the St. Isaac Cathedral, which is surely what I did as a devout Christian. I wished to see what the inside looks like to know whether churches all over the world were constructed according to some master plan.

If you ever reach the pinnacle of St. Isaac Cathedral, the view is surely great and worth all efforts. But after tiring yourself on the way up and on the way down, I warn you to do what I did and get some snacks on the way back to recover your sapped energy.

Like many other trade centers, the one I visited to buy snacks in Kouznetchny had lots of sellers who looked like they had central Asian roots. Anyway, the choices for products were surprisingly bountiful, even for very fresh fruits, but prices were way too expensive for my limited budget.

So instead, I just got a bag of mini apples to munch on my way back and decided that I'd rather use my spare time to visit even the less famous churches. I planned to light a candle in each cathedral, so my prayers would probably be heard.

On the way to these churches, another notable view that caught my eye was an exposition of glass sculptures from all over the country; the sight is a showcase of exceptional creations on display for one month or until the weather permits.