First post about my occasional public outings. Not sure about the format yet, but hey, need to start somewhere! I’ll write about a trip I had few weeks ago. A walk around Saint-Petersburg during a rare winter sun. Let me tell you about it.

Saint-Petersburg in a Winter’s Light

The city woke up under a strange spell. Sun, for a change. In Saint-Petersburg, that’s like winning the lottery. The usual grey blanket was gone, replaced by a warm, golden glow. And for a girl like me, who lives her life mostly behind closed doors… that was a sign.

So, I slipped into my freshly made black velvet dress, because I am nothing if not classic.🖤 A beret to hide my ears.👒 And a pair of comfy boots that can handle any amount of slush.👠 Perfect for a stroll when you want to feel elegant and beautiful, but to attract too much attention.💅

In hindsight, it was not the wisest decision on my part. When taking photos, it was either me too dark, or everything else too bright. And the videos… ugh. My phone is a potato, okay! I’m planning to improve it soon, but for now… I won’t complain! It’s a memory.

My journey began from Admiralteyskaya metro station, near the start of Nevsky Prospekt. I was going to go through the Aleksandrovsky garden, past the Admiralty, and towards the Bronze Horseman. But, seeing that there was not a lot of people on the streets, I decided to visit Palace Square. I already visited it in kigu during the night, but in a broad daylight it is a totally different beast.

And it was breathtaking.💎

Palace Square was in lazy preparations for the upcoming holidays and was not fenced out yet (lucky!). Workers were installing city’s main Christmas Tree. It was hard to see it at that moment, but I’ve heard it looked like total trash! And that’s after the fact that St. Pete spent like 3 times the money on New Year decorations than Moscow! Yep, let’s not talk about it.🥲

Admiralty and Bronze Horseman

Returning back on track, it was actually the first time I went to the Aleksandrovsky garden at all! Well, at least by my own volition. It is a very pleasant place. Nice pathways, lots of fountains (turned off, by embellished with lights and decorations). Very clean, actually, for such a tourist spot. And the Admiralty! I’m not a navy nerd by any means, but all my life I was associated with navy, one way or another. It feels like home, somehow. 🥺

At the gates a couple of soldiers (?) were moving boxes around. We’ve got cute little exchange when they waved to me. I just waved back at them, but I’m sure they received at least a little bit of a surprise seeing a doll walking through the garden!😄

Next was the Bronze Horseman. A must-visit for every tourist. A symbol of the city, and for me… well, let’s say it holds a certain power. Standing before it, you feel the weight of history. The strength, the endurance, the stubborn will of this city. It’s a monument to a man who built his city with iron will and sacrificed everything for it.

Despite being in the middle of the city, it’s kind of tucked away from the tourists walking streets. You have this grand statue, this powerful figure, and just… childrens playground behind it. It’s so bizarre! But so cool. It feels like it’s guarding the city not from enemies, but from the chaos of daily life. I took my time, stood there, and just soaked it in. It’s a place that deserves silence, respect, and maybe a little bit of admiration. A piece of history standing firm against the tide.🫡

Isaakievskiy Cathedral and Plaza

And from the Bronze Horseman, the path continued towards another monumental landmark: Isaakievskiy Cathedral. Or, as the locals call it, “Isaki”. The main plaza in front of it was turned into a magical wonderland for the upcoming New Year festivities.

Let me tell you, they are putting in a LOT of effort.😊

The plaza was a forest of glitter and green. Giant Christmas trees, their branches heavy with lights and tinsel. There were shimmering arches, light poles wrapped in sparkling decorations, and other fancy stuff. I walked around the main square, just admiring the spectacle. It was quiet, too. Mostly families were there, so it felt more peaceful and less… crowded. It was fun to see the city decked out for a holiday that isn’t really mine, but I can certainly appreciate the artistry of it all! The sheer volume of decoration is staggering.🎄

In the middle of this festive chaos stands the statue of Nikolay I, on his horse, facing the canal. He looks stoic and powerful, watching over everything.

Lesser streets

My initial plan was to head to the Mariinsky Theatre. I love the look of that building, and the idea of wandering the streets around it was enticing. But… I have to admit it. While I really like the looks of my dress, it is actually quite heavy, and my shoulders a started to get sore. Also, those velvet shoes, while pretty, aren’t exactly designed for hours of walking. They are more for standing around looking pretty, you see. My feet started to protest.😫

And honestly? The stroll itself was already enough. It wasn’t a race. It was a leisurely walk on a beautiful, rare day. I had no rush to be anywhere, and the city was just giving me one beautiful scene after another. Why ruin a perfect day by forcing it?😌

So, I turned around and made my way toward the Sennaya Ploshchad metro station. On my way, I passed the Griboyedov Canal. The water was a deep, dark blue, reflecting the winter sky and the city’s architecture. It’s always a sight. And I also saw a horse-drawn carriage slowly passing me on the street like it a norm. Because in this city it is! And navigating throught the narrow alleys and side-streets of Saint-Pete, it feels like traveling back in time. It is truly magnificent!🖤

I ended up stopping by the canalside to film the reflections. It’s a simple thing, but sometimes the best shots are the ones you least expect.

By the time I reached the station, I was pleasantly exhausted. The whole trip felt like a dream. A rare moment of sunshine in the dead of winter, a city transformed into a storybook scene, and all of it, just for me. It wasn’t a grand adventure. It wasn’t about seeing every single attraction. It was just… a perfect, sunny winter day in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. And it was mine. I’ll definitely do it again sometimes. Hopefully during the holidays. I wanna see all the New Year lights shine together. That would be something special to behold! ✨