Leningrad, Petrograd, St. Petersburg, Peter.
It's probably about three in the morning. Eighteen more hours and I'll be in Peter. It's the third time I've been to this city, and I've walked around it. But I don't know where to start. I will not write about boring excursions to museums, but I will tell you where to visit.
No matter where you live, take the subway in the morning when people are rushing to work. If you are an avid photographer, grab a camera – it will come in handy. Men in tuxedos and Vietnamese, girls in long T-shirts and with uncooked black hair... You know, this is the real Peter who's just waking up. People haven't had time to put on their masks yet - they're all real.
Walk along the Nevsky, look at the "Big Gostiny Dvor" and "Trading House Passage". Take a boat ride along the Neva River, only from Anichkov Bridge – there are the most interesting guides who will surprise you with Peter’s personal life for an hour! Even if you are not a book lover, check out the bookstore. Go to the Chocolate Factory and then to the Stroganov Palace. You will bypass it in less than half an hour, but in the souvenir shop you can spend not only a lot of time.
Walk along the Palace Square, if you wish, visit the Hermitage. I've never been there, so it's not up to me to judge whether or not to go there. Walk along the huge bridge leading to the Vasilievskaya arrow - this is my favorite place. There is always a cool breeze, there is always spiritual, even on the coldest days. And if you're lucky enough to be there at noon, you'll hear a gunshot, they say good luck.
If you’ve always dreamed of seeing drawbridges, don’t waste time. Find a timetable for bridges and sleepless nights! Just remember, when the bridges open, the whole city is divided in half. It is impossible to get from one half to the other until five in the morning. Do not go on night excursions – only time and money will be lost.
Visit Peterhof, but without a guide. There's no rush. I usually go there all day, from nine in the morning to eight in the evening. The fountains, the Gulf of Finland, all this is fascinating!
Take a walk around the Admiralty. There are always many foreigners, I am very fond of their enthusiastic faces. Stay there for half a day, you will love it.
Dedicate one day to the city. Walk through the streets, parks, buy souvenirs, communicate with foreigners. There are so many interesting things in St. Petersburg that there is never enough time for anything, I did not have three times to enjoy this city enough.
Anastasia Rogova
Photo from www.aktam.by