Saint Petersburg

#Saint_Petersburg_Leningrad

Originally founded as Saint Petersburg in 1703 it was the capital of the Russian Empire until 1918
The name was changed to Leningrad in 1924 (which remained during the Soviet era)
 until reverting back in 1991

KeyTip
For cheap travel within the city use the Metro and depending on length of stay
  St. Petersburg Card for unlimited public transport (bus, train, metro or trolleybus) plus museum access

 

Here i am experiencing what they call "White Nights" with nearly 24 hours of daylight
as i take in all the culture 
The season typically runs from late April to end of August with many festivals and events
 But remember its prime time here, so expect higher prices for hotels plus flights
(if available, so book early)

Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
The name comes from the area where the Tsar Alexander 11 was killed by a bomb in 1881
(there were six previous assassination attempts, the seventh was fatal)
 thus the site is a memorial to him

Interesting Facts
A) Two Decades; the church took twenty four years to build because of the complexity of 7,500 sq meters (80,700 sq feet) of mosaics, which took thirty artists to finish

B) Not a Church; there was no parish or public mass, so the state allocated money for its upkeep. 
Then after the 1917 revolution the local authorities cut off financing, forcing the church to cover
 their own expenses.
But the priests refused to cooperate with he Soviet Government, thus in 1930 the church was closed and then its bells were melted down

C) World War Two; ironically this global conflict saved the church from being destroyed
as the Bolsheviks had been on a mission to wipe out all such structures in the area

D) Griboyedov Canal; local officials attempted to dismantle the church as supposedly it impeded traffic along this waterway, the public protested and the Savior was once again saved 

E) Museum; in the 1960s the church was recognized as an architectural monument and was
 restored over twenty seven years, then reopened in 1997 

Wrought Iron
Meaning "to work" which describes how blacksmiths
hammered and shaped it

Matthew Clark
Was a Scottish engineer who played a major role in the construction of many classical buildings in Saint Petersburg (1810-1830s) with his innovative work introducing iron construction
 to civic buildings plus his pioneering of dome designs 

Eight Hundred 
With this number of spans you get the nickname "Venice of the North"

Other Bridge Facts
A) Anichkov; look for the horse sculptures which were buried during
the war for protection
B) Bank; narrow pedestrian crossover that has the glided winged lions statues
which rumor has, touching it brings good financial luck
C) Palace; it connects you to the Winter Palace area
D) Blue; claims to be the widest (100 meters-350 feet) in the world and crosses
the Moyka River 
E) Drawbridge; about a dozen that cross the Neva River and offering nightly openings in the tourist season during the White Nights timeframe

Ownership Rules
The citizens here can own various property types from homes, apartments or even land
which they pay taxes on
State Seizure
But authorities can take your property for "slandering the army" or collaborating with what they would consider an undesirable person or various organizations

Smolny Cathedral
Was intended to be a convent by Empress Elizabeth who planned to retire here as a nun,
 but her plans changed
After her death the construction was put on hold, finally to be completed ninety years later

KeyTip;
You can climb to the bell tower for great views of the city and adding to the
adventure..... the stairs are narrow plus creaky
Just the way it should be 😆 

Neva River
From the Finnish word "neva" meaning swampy

A) Forced Labor; hundreds of thousands of peasants (many dying) helped build the city
 by draining the swamps for its land
B) Stone Tolls; land carts and water barges entering the city were forced to pay a "tax"
 in building materials, which was then used locally  
C) Canals; were cut out to help manage the water and its flooding, which then became
 transportation routes
D) Deep Metro; because of the waterlogged soil, the subway system had to be built deep with some sections at 85 meters (279 feet) deep

St. Isaac Cathedral
Rumor is; because of its large dome (fourth biggest in the world) the Nazi land troops used it as a reference point during the war, which saved it from destruction
Also from the air, the golden dome was painted grey to avoid attracting the German bombers

Innovative Engineering
To support the massive structure on its marshy lot, over 10,000 tree trunks were sunk
 deep into its foundation 
Also by using electrotyping to create the lightweight six meter (19 foot) tall angel statues

KeyTip
Take the 262 steps to the colonnade (observation deck) for views of the city
 or they do have a lift for those unable to climb

Terry Travels B&W Photos #5

#Terry_Travels_BWPhotos5

Greek Islands
Finding these religious symbols that are predominantly tied
 to Orthodox Christianity

Fun Facts
A) The Mati Charm; its the blue eye symbol you find everywhere here, it is a protective measure against a curse from someone who has envy or has malicious energy towards you
B) Double-Headed Eagle; used by the church with its historical connection
to the Byzantine Empire
C) Pomegranates for Prosperity; symbols of fertility, abundance and good fortune that gets its roots from Greek Mythology 
Smashing one to the ground during a wedding or New Years is a traditional ritual
to ensure good luck
D) Roadside Shrines; look for them along roadsides here as an expression of thanks for miracles
or for you to have a safe journey 

 

Winter Palace
From Catherine the Great influence, who greatly expanded the collection
(with her love) of art and sculptures

Venice
The city sits on 118 small islands supported by millions of wooden piles
driven into the lagoon floor
Modern engineering is also in play, as the area keeps sinking but projects like barriers to prevent flooding from the high tides of the Adriatic Sea are being built

Yaroslavl
Exploring some "secret passageways" at the monasteries here
which may lead to hidden tunnels and then another blog 😅

Vorarlberg Austria
After hiking all morning
Having a "Ploughmans Snack" which is bread, cheese and ham
 served on a wooden board

Tabor Czech Republic
Thinking of the "Eye in the Sky" reference when taking this picture, which has many ancient
 or modern meanings to some
I will use the Freemasonry version, which appeared on the
Great Seal of the United States

 

Moscow
This particular train station was used as a bomb shelter during the war, hospital
(over 200 babies were born here) library and concert hall

Volga River Canal System
This part of the waterway was built with tens of thousands of forced laborers
from the Gulag System
The conditions those prisoners endured were notoriously brutal with 14 working hours per day, inadequate food rations, unsanitary living conditions and violence from both
 the guards plus other inmates

Halifax Canada
Tall Ship Festival on a typical maritime day......fog

Quebec City 
The street lamp has evolved from early use of candles plus oil in 4th Century BC
Onto Benjamin Franklin improving the oil lamps with a four-pane design to reduce soot
up to London (1807) with the first use of gas lighting
Today
Ever notice some LED streetlights turn purple, its because the blue light is shining through
 a degraded phosphor coating

Spain Bridges
Some have the Roman engineering footprint all over it with the addition of aqueducts that were raised to maintain elevation for water flow
With the arch design that would efficiently transfer the weight down to the piers and abutments
so way ahead thinking
 Also the spans were monuments to the advanced strategic vision of this empire

Naples Italy
Finding this Gothic street lamp in the Spanish Quarter of the city
You need to look down the narrow alleys for this part of the areas character,
which some being protected
 by a glass globe or ornate metalwork

Barcelona
Counting many Griffins on top of this building
It is part of mythology that is a legendary creature with the body of a lion, head and wings of an eagle
It symbolizes strength plus the guardianship of treasures

Ottawa
Entrance is open, by i just liked the aesthetics of staircase inviting you in
 with the classic door and its wrought iron accents

Nova Scotia
Part of my city of Halifax "green space" which takes in over 14,000 acres,
 which is well above the national average

Terry Travels B&W Photos #2

#Terry_Travels_BWPhotos2

The Austrian Border
 As i find this thatched roof structure during my hike, the owner tells me with proper maintenance it can last for over thirty years and is made from water reeds because of its durability
 Plus its a natural insulation for warm winters and cool summers

 

Plaza Mayor in Madrid
Throughout its history the square was the setting for theatrical performances, bullfights, public executions (during the Spanish Inquisition) and now public markets
But i am here looking for the rumored secret hidden tunnels and passageways,
 as once an explorer always as searcher 😀

Val Gardena Italy
My friends from here assumed all Canadians knew how to ski or snowboard, ah no 😅
So was content drinking some of the local wine

Salamanca
I am here in "The Golden City"
 It got its nickname from the local sandstone used in the construction of the buildings
 The powder in it makes the buildings glow a gold plus orange colors during the
direct sunlight onto the structures
Also if ever here look for the quirky carvings in the doors of some of the cathedrals, such as a dragon eating ice cream or of a stork, crayfish and maybe a hare if your lucky

Northern Morocco
I am tracing the ancient trading route used by the Romans
 and finding some old architecture along my route
Most of the area was plundered for its marble then used to construct other palaces in the area, so mostly empty but still full of history 

Venice
Did you know the city is built on 118 small islands within a lagoon that is connected
 by over 400 bridges
There are no cars here, so you can travel by walking or (as you can see above) by boat
With an "interesting fact"
 The Gondolas are required by law (enacted in the 16th century) to be painted black, so not to show displays of excessive wealth

South Island New Zealand
Tramping Aoraki / Mount Cook Park with its 72 named glaciers
 and 23 peaks over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet)

Marrakesh
Exploring the labyrinthine type maze that were not built for cars but people
as i make my way to the Medina 

Salzburg Austria
Looking for the city office that employs a professional team of "mountain cleaners" who actually inspect and (if needed) secure the cliffs of the surrounding peaks
 It has being a job for now over 350 years

Verona Italy
This arena is actually older than the Colosseum in Rome by 50 years and you can still see the "wing" section that is the original wall that was not destroyed in the earthquake in 1117
Modern Use
It still hosts an opera festival each year since 1913, major concerts and other type of events plus will be used during the closing ceremonies of the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics

Rabat 
Searching the ruins for that local legend of the Mystical Eels which would
bring good fortune to all who fed them

Slovenia
Learning of the traditional way of drying hay using wooden structures called "kozolci"
 as i make my way to the Postojna Cave System

Valencia
Ordering an Aqua de Valencia Drink across from a Church
Created by accident in 1959, it contains (ironically) no water but freshly squeezed orange juice, cava which is a sparking wine, gin, vodka and added sugar
It was kept a secret for over a decade until it became too popular, so then the locals started telling the unsuspecting tourists that it was the stronger cousin to the Mimosa

Which then you are warned, to drink slowly or you will be seeing the Spanish Stars 😅

Cordoba
Having a Salmorejo
 It is a thick cold soup made from tomato, olive oil, bread, garlic and getting it topped off
 with hard boiled eggs

Swiss Alps
Did you know that this mountain range covers around 65%
total land area of Switzerland
Thus you learn to live with what is in your boundaries, so because of that the highest (in elevation) railway station in Europe is here (3454 meters- 11,332 feet)
 For that very reason, i am heading to Jungfraujoch 

Chicago Gotham City

#Chicago_Gotham_City

As i am taking the Architectural River Cruise, learning many things about Chicago
 (as one local told me) it is what New York wanted to be 😃

A) Movable Bridges: has more than all the other cities in the world
B) Backward-Flowing River; was engineered to reverse to keep the drinking water from being contaminated from the sewage 
C) Ground Raised; was hydraulically elevated several feet in the 1800s to create a better runoff system
D) Windy City; the nickname was first used by the newspaper here to mock the politicians
and not the weather
E) First Skyscraper; the worlds first steel framed tall structure was the
 Home Insurance Building in 1885

 

Gotham 
The name was first used to describe New York City by American author Washington Irving in the 1800s Then in 1941 by the comics to give the Batman series a real time feel to it
So both cities have been used for filming locations, but when here look for theses areas if your a fan

A) Chicago Board of Trade Building; was used for Wayne Enterprises 
B) Lower Wacker Drive; its multi-layered underground streets for the high speed chase scenes
C) Willis Tower; when Batman was surveying the city from its roof
D) Downtown Alleys; with the many used for the fight scenes against the criminals
E) Old Main Post Office; was the "bank" targeted by the Joker

Mag Mile
It was given the name from a developer who was changing the area from its past of mansions
 to a retail destination in 1947
Today it has over 460 stores plus shopping malls over a 13 block
 stretch of North Michigan Avenue

Fun Facts
A) Surviving Construction; the Old Chicago Water Tower (1867) is one of the few to be still standing after the Great Fire of 1871
B) Wrigley; was the first major structure to be built in the area which helped
spark the development 
C) Looking Glass Theatre; the Tony Award winning company in the Water Tower district and with its free gallery exhibits
D) Historic Properties; Drake Hotel, Tribune Tower plus the Palmolive Building

Father Time Clock
Was a gift in 1926 from the Elgin National Watch Company
 who was renting space in the building at 35 East Wacker Drive
Look for the figurine on top, of the bearded man holding an hourglass and a scythe
This represents the relentless passage of time 

The Jewelers Building 
A) Car Elevator; the structure was originally designed for diamond and jewelry merchants
  So it had a vehicle lift going up to the 22nd floor, all to avoid being mugged on the street
B) Al Capone; rumor had it he ran a Speakeasy (running of an illegal bar during the Prohibition era)
 on the top floor
But when that nightclub was opened he was in jail, so impossible
But a cool story😎 none the less
C) Movie Sets; Transformers and its giant robot battle, Batman as the City Courthouse , Home Alone 2 and Lost in New York (even know we know where this location is jajjaja)

Medinah Athletic Club (now InterContinental Hotel)
Was built in 1929 with the intent of a docking space for blimps with a structure on its spire,
but was never used

As Chicago had its own disaster with the Zeppelins, when in 1919 a Goodyear craft caught fire and crashed into the city which resulted in the deaths of 13 people (on the ground -10 bank employees)

Government Council within 6 hours after the tragedy passed an ordinance to regulate flying over the city, thus ending any early ambitions to be an airship hub 

Iconic Buildings

A) Wrigley Building; its clock tower is lit up every night since the 1920s 
The entire exterior is covered with 250,000 individual pieces of glazed white terra cotta tiles
 It has six different shades becoming lighter towards the top, to emphasize the buildings height

If you make it here you will notice no huge sign plastered on the side of the structure, but only a small brass plague as you enter the building
 As William Wrigley Jr. said; the structure itself and its unique appearance with its constant illumination is enough of an advertisement 
I like his style and way of thinking

B) Aqua Tower; has the unique facade that can extend out by 3.6 meters (12 feet) to give it the look
 of a rippling water effect
But it has a purpose; to maximize the views, reduces wind sway and provides natural solar shading which all blends into its sustainability status 
It also has one of the largest green roofs in Chicago, specific glass treatments to minimize bird strikes and a efficient water irrigation system

C) Palmolive Building; was originally built in 1929 and was the headquarters of
Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company
Also the Playboy Magazine was here (1965-1989) with then a residential conversion in the early 2000s

On the roof there was a powerful navigational light aid installed in 1930 to help guide planes into the Midway Airport, which was called the Lindbergh Beacon
After complaints by the local residents of the light (as the buildings kept being built more vertical) the beam was turned off in 1981, but restored in the 2000s and modified
to rotate back and forth just over Lake Michigan 

D) John Hancock Centre (875North Michigan Avenue); has the distinctive X-bracing on the outside This was for structural engineering innovation which allowed a more open concept interior,
 because less fewer internal support columns were needed.
 Also on the 44th floor there is Americas highest indoor pool plus a full service grocery store 
Onto the 94th level for the 360Chicago Observation Deck, where on a clear day you can see
 Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan

Food Choices
Hey when in any new area i am trying what the place is famous for

Deep Dish Pizza
Only started in 1943 and is made upside down to prevent the cheese from burning as the mozzarella goes directly on the crust, followed by the toppings (sausage is the most popular in Chicago) then a chunky layer of tomato sauce which takes 35 + minutes to bake
Rainbow Cone
Its sliced not scooped with five flavors (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla with cherries plus walnuts and pistachio almond) with orange sherbet on the top
During the Depression Era the founder created this idea as to offer something substantial and filling
 He was trying to convince people to spend their limited money on ice cream instead
 on a full meal which would be the same cost
Twinkies
Invented here in the 1930s, but had no more room left inside me 😅

Route 66
The "Mother Road" that starts in Chicago with the Illinois section the first to be paved 
When visiting the city, look for East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue for a small "Start Historic Route 66" sign on a lamppost

The Beginnings
The idea was to connect hundreds of small rural towns in the Midwest and the West Coast of America
 The planners used the southerly alignment (along the 35th parallel) which was a better route to avoid the more extreme weather and the steep grades of the northern highways
Many Commuters
The growing trucking industry started using Route 66 to ship their goods
Then it was well traveled during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl eras,
 as hundreds of thousands used the road migrating to California
searching for a better life
Finally during the world conflict it was an important military transport corridor, used to move equipment, fuel plus troops to the west coast ports
Post-War Car Culture
The American road trip was born with the rise of more economic prosperity, better dependable automobiles plus the improved highway system, all led to a sense of freedom and exploration 

This started a boom in the roadside businesses like motels, diners and quirky attractions

Some Local Landmarks
Berghoff Restaurant
One of the oldest diners along the route and famously received the cities first post-prohibition
 liquor license in 1933
Dairy Queen
Opened on the highway in 1940 which now the building is now a local landmark
Historic Gas Stations
Look for Standard Oil and Amber-Becker 
Gemini Giant
The classic muffler man as a roadside photo stop

Charcoal Sketch
As i finish my drawing of the city, it is considered the birthplace of modern architecture
 and the skyscraper
 Until we meet again, i will miss your ambience Chi-Town 

Ottawa Canada

#Ottawa_Capital_Canada

Chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857
 The city has the largest population of bilingualism for French and English in Canada
 They have made both as the official languages here
 
Green Roots
In 1885 Ottawa was the only place in Canada with all its downtown streetlights run by electricity,
 using steam engines that utilized the waterpower from the nearby Chaudiere Falls
This replaced the older coal oil lamps, putting Ottawa ahead
 of any American city at this time
 With modern times, the country of Canada is at 80% for its electricity generation from clean sources
 like hydropower, wind and solar
 

The parliament building roofs are of this color for several reasons
A) Energy Savings; the added insulation provided by the soil and plants significantly reduces energy costs for both heating plus cooling
B) Stormwater Management; acting like a sponge it absorbs the rainwater which helps control the amount of water entering the drainage system
C) Air Quality; the plants absorb carbon dioxide plus other pollutants
D) Habitat Creation; its a living landscape for various forms of wildlife 

Recreation Areas
Over 1300 parks (the city operates) with a wide range of amenities that includes 2000 play structure stations, trails and sport courts
 Also Ottawa has 800kms (500 miles) of bike routes that include multiuse pathways, rural trails
 and some off road options

 

Name Origins
From the Algonquin word "adawe" meaning to trade

Initially the area was known for its fur industry, but that declined with the Hudson Bay and North West Companies moving their operations further north

Original Trans-Canada Highway
 The Ottawa River plus its canal system moved massive quantities of lumber for the British and American markets
Then in the late 1880s the railway network within the country expanded which opened up the industrial growth for the area

Parliament Buildings
Originally constructed between 1859-1876 with the Centre Block being redone after the 1916 fire
The iconic Peace Tower (92 meters- 302 feet high) is certainly the focal point of the structure and was built to commemorate the contributions to the First World War

Fun Fact
There is an observation deck at the Carillon with its 53 bells, which is played by a "carillonneur" and those performances were broadcast live from the tower

The wall is made up of multiple materials, highlighting the stone which came from quarries in Europe,
 United States and Canada
The rock posts and wrought iron fencing were used in keeping with the theme of the Gothic Style
 that was chosen for the entire complex

Hidden Features
A) Secret Passageways; the office of Opposition Leader has a hidden door that is blended into the wood paneling leading to another room
B) Apartment; the Speaker of the House of Commons has a three-room retreat that includes a living room, bathroom and bed
C) Unfinished Elements: after the 1916 fire and its rebuild, the architect intentionally left around two hundred building features (such as blanks walls, windows) unadorned
 saying that the Parliament is a "living, changing institution"
D) Hidden Pub; when the original House of Commons was built the bar was located in the basement, which is now closed 
E) The Clock; during the fall time change in Canada  (the mechanism
 cannot be turned backwards) so it is stopped for an hour to get the correct setting

Found my Emblem for Nova Scotia in which each Province and Territory is
 represented here in stone

Did You Know
A) Nova Scotia; its coat of arms was granted in 1625 which makes it the oldest 
B) Continuous Carving; it has hired Dominion Sculptors for over one hundred years to carry on this work, as it is a ongoing project
C) Themes; with each Provincial or Territorial plaque it always includes flora and fauna, for example maple leaves for British Columbia or wheat for the Manitoba
D) Indigenous; starting in 1978 it has added the cultural and historical perspectives to the carving program of the buildings

Gothic Style
The many figures i found here was common during this architectural style which was aimed to evoke the grandeur of medieval cathedrals and also to the grotesque
To teach about the Good and Evil

Also at this location, some of the carvings where of a hybrid design
that was inspired by the prehistoric fossils found on the site during the construction phase

 Another was of the fish-tailed dragon
 which was in the theme of the structures nautical vibe they were trying to create

The city is home to fourteen museums
 Which as a Canadian is you want your capital to be; displaying our cultures, history,
 heritage and achievements 

My Top Three
A) Canadian War Museum; on November 11th the sun shines through the glass purposely to illuminate the headstone for the "Canadas Unknown Soldier" in the Memorial Hall
Also look on the north part of the building for the Morse Code Windows
which are designed to spell out "Lest We Forget"

B) Museum of History; with over 4 million artifacts including a large collection of First Nations Art plus totem poles, a water gallery featuring a 19 meter (62 feet) long blue whale skeleton 
It has something for everyone

Diefenbunker

It was built during the Cold War as a top-secret central Emergency Government Headquarters that was a four-storey underground facility

A) John Diefenbaker; nicknamed after this Prime Minister who commissioned it, but actually never visited the completed site
Pierre Trudeau was the only one who was here during its operational period
B) Gold & Beer; the lowest level was built to hold the gold of the country incase of a nuclear attack, plus the personal storage of "on site" beer 😀
C) Survival Time; the facility was designed to house 535 government
and military personal up to 30 days 
 The tunnel was purposely designed to be 378 feet long to divert any explosions on that end

Nova Scotia
We had our own Diefenbunker in the northern part of my Province that was built in 1964 for the same reasons as stated above
Now its being repurposed as boutique hotel 

Sparks Street
It became the first outdoor pedestrian street in North America,
after its conversion in 1967

"Full Circle"
 The original owner Nicholas Sparks (who was a settler and farmer)
after he purchased the land in 1821,
created a path so he could walk through his property  

Famous Five
The statues honor the women (Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards) who successfully campaigned to have women
declared "persons" under Canadian Law
Which opened the door for females to be appointed to the Senate

Rideau Canal
It was built as a secure military supply route between Montreal and Kingston after the War of 1812
This was an inland alternative to the St Lawrence River
 which was vulnerable to American attacks

Fun Facts
A) Manual Operations; most of the 45 locks are still worked by hand, as it was when the canal first opened in 1832

B) Engineering Marvel; used a "slackwater" system which was building dams to raise the water levels of the existing rivers and lakes, instead of digging new channels around the rapids

C) Bytown; with this new construction settlement plus all its workers, it brought prosperity to the area
and it eventually was renamed Ottawa 
Unfortunately around 1000 workers died (mostly from malaria) as the area was at this time full of swamps with its mosquitoes

D) Rideau Namesake; French for "curtain" as Samuel de Champlain seen the rivers twin waterfalls which gave him this thought 

E) Beaver Tails; the iconic pastry got its start in 1981 with a kiosk selling during
 the winter skateway on the canal

Climate 
The Capital is the seventh coldest in the world, so in Canada you embrace your surroundings
Thus the canal is the planets longest naturally frozen skating rink, which would be the equivalent
 (in area) to 90 Olympic sized hockey rinks 

Chateau Laurier Hotel
The rumor is the building is haunted after its builder Charles Melville Hays died on the Titanic days before its opening

He was a prominent American railroad executive who moved to Canada in the early 1900s with a vision to build a second transcontinental line across the country
Building the hotels along this route was his plan to elevate tourism plus his Grand Trunk Rail Company
but he never got to see his dream fulfilled 

Hearsay
That the furniture for the hotel was on the doomed vessel, which has not been verified as the ships cargo manifest had it not listed
But for sure the Belgian sculptor Paul Chevre survived and ironically his work of Sir Wilfrid Laurier bust is in the hotel lobby

Catching a ride in the vintage auto, perfect way to end this trip
 with an area that has so much history