'A sweet and sour visit to St. Petersburg, Russia, Part-I' - by K J S Chatrath

 

St. Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. It was the imperial capital for 2 centuries, having been founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, subject of the city's iconic “Bronze Horseman” statue. It remains Russia's cultural center, with venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet, and the State Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to Kandinsky works.
I spent three days there in 2011. I had gone there to join an internation travel group to undertake the Siberian Rail Journey. The first day in the town was wonderful. I was overwhelmed by its various sights. The next two days were sour. My passport got stolen. I could not join the Siberian Rail journey without my passport. Next two traumatic days were spent in going to the police station to lodge a report of thee theft and theen to go to the Indian Consulate for getting a travel document to return to India. No, it did not send there. The last day was spent in obtaining an 'Exit Visa' from the relevant Ministry of Russian governemt. The rules were applied strictly in all the offices, but being from India, I got a very sympathetic and friendly treatment. Here I share photos of the pleasant first day of my stay in St. Petersburg.
(This is a repeat presentation)

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