Foto: The impressive Saint Isaac's Cathedral in Saint Petersburg (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Russia - Crossing the bridge, we arrive at the Ivan Gate, which gives access to the fortress. It was here in 1703 that Peter the Great gave the order to build the city of Saint Petersburg. Over the years, the bastion also served to imprison and torture numerous political opponents. The second gate, the Peter Gate, provides access to the inner courtyard of the fortress. The large Peter and Paul Cathedral immediately stands out. Its golden spire glistens in the sunlight. The cathedral’s interior is even more remarkable: an opulent golden decoration, marble columns, and an impressive gilded iconostasis make it an imposing setting for the tombs of the Tsars. Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and other Romanov tsars are buried here. We pass through the Mint and the former prison to reach the inner courtyard. It is exactly noon. Every day at this time, a cannonball is fired from the bastion. With a thunderous bang, the afternoon is officially marked. We walk through the Neva Gate and stroll along the Neva River. In the past, prisoners were transported here by boat. Today, that grim past is not apparent. On the sandy strip beside the fortress on the Neva’s banks, many Russians enjoy the fine weather and children play in the water. It’s striking how some people stand in the sun reading books. On the other side, we leave the fortress island and cross over to Vasilyevsky Island. Across the river, we continue walking to Saint Isaac's Cathedral — one of the largest churches in the world. Likely misjudging the distance due to the cathedral’s towering height, it takes longer than expected to reach the park in front of the church. In the park stands a large statue of Peter the Great on horseback. We buy tickets for both the cathedral and its dome. Upon entering, I am instantly overwhelmed by the stunning interior. I don’t know where to look first, but every direction is worth admiring: enormous marble columns, the dome with a silver dove at its peak, and beautiful stained-glass windows in the iconostasis. Magnificent! I can’t recall ever visiting a church like this. Back outside, we walk around the cathedral again to reach the entrance for climbing the tower — oddly, the ticket office is at the back while the entrance is on the other side. After climbing the 210-step spiral staircase, we reach the dome of Saint Isaac’s. A footbridge leads us to the balustrade, where we enjoy breathtaking views of Saint Petersburg in all directions.
The Altai Mountains
Russia - We return to the hotel a little too late for checkout, but it turns out to be no problem. We say goodbye to the owner and drive out of Gorno-Altaisk into the Altai Mountains. As soon as we hit the road, it starts to rain. A pity for the view with those ...
The far east Vladivostok
Russia - The traffic on the way to Vladivostok gets busier and busier. Fortunately, the road also improves. The final stretch is even a four-lane highway. We enter the city via a long bridge. Vladivostok is much larger than I had imagined. In the city center, ...
The Hermitage
Russia - Today is the first Thursday of the month, which means all museums in Russia are free. That includes the Hermitage. At the entrance, it’s clear many people are aware of this—we join a long line in the inner courtyard. The ticket counters are about ...
The Kremlin and Red Square
Russia - The Kremlin in Moscow is the geographical and historical heart of the Russian capital. The name Kremlin comes from the Russian word кремль (kreml), meaning fortified city center. While in Dutch the term usually refers to the Moscow Kremlin, other ...