St. Petersburg: The city

St. Petersburg has been styled “the Venice of the north,” and it is easy to see the analogy. The city is built on a number of islands connected by riverways and canals, with bustling boat and pedestrian traffic, impressive palaces, and amazing churches. If I had to describe it in one word, I’d say, “Beautiful.” If given a second word-choice, I’d have to go with, “Crowded.”

Yes, I know it’s June. I know the soccer World Cup begins here (and in several other cities in Russia) in just two days (I wrote this on June 13th). I know it’s a necessary stop on every Baltic cruise. But, really, there are *five* cruise ships in the port today, plus a river-cruise ship in the city. And at least one of those five ships is big enough to house an entire city all by itself. And even so, this is not enough to explain how every block is too crowded to walk on; every tourist sight has its long line; the Hermitage is too full of people to see the pictures; and even first thing in the morning on a cool, cloudy day, Peterhof has crowds around every fountain.

I prefer my photographs uncluttered with strangers, but that’s just not always possible here. Please look at them with understanding, and enjoy the sights behind all the people!

Many people have posted wonderful pictures of St. Petersburg’s monuments–and the monuments are certainly amazing. But I’d like just to focus on the street scenes (some of which, of course, involve monuments), so that you can see something of the fabric of this beautiful city. And the fabric of the city is woven around its many canals and its great riverway. The views from the Neva River are expansive.