When I was in high school we had the opportunity to go to Europe for 2 weeks including Russia. I am not even sure why anymore, but Russia was somewhere I really wanted to go to. I think it is a memory of this amazing church and the folklore and the dancing, it sounded so fantastic. Unfortunately the Russian section of the trip got cancelled and so I decided not to go.
Finally, quite a few years later…. ok 20yrs later….. I have completed this dream and what do you know I even found the church!
Church of Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg Russua
Below please find a photo essay of the amazing tour I did and the amazing places I visited…. truly spectacular and nothing at all like the communist Russia we always hear about…
St. Petersburg
The Winter Palace aka the Hermitage
The Old Winter Palace of the Tsars is now the Hermitage containing over 3 millions works of art.
Peter and Paul Fortress
couples like these roam among the tourists trying to get money for a photo, I did a quick happy snappy of one of my guests
Inside the Cathedral in the Peter and Paul Fortress
Peter the Great and his family
Remains of the Romanovs the last Royal Family of Russia
First view of Spilled Blood Church
This church was dedicated to Alexander the 1st by his son, Alexander the 2nd. It is built over the spot where Alexander the 1st was assassinated, the main spire is 81m high (he died in 1881) and the 2nd highest is 69m high (he was 69 when he died). The entire inside from floor to ceiling is covered in mosaics, created with hand blown tiny glass tiles….
Church of Spilled Blood
mosaics everywhere
if you didn’t know better you would think they were paintings
inside the main spire
all mosaics
canal
St. Petersburg is actually built on a number of islands connected by canals and bridges. From late night to early morning all the bridges are raised for river traffic so you have to be careful to plan you evening out….
After a fabulous day out exploring the city we enjoyed an evening of Russian Folklore and dancing…. Now I remember why it always fascinated me!!!!
Beautiful costumes
Trailing Trekker's Travels 