St Petersburg Russia. Once again I run into some lovely locals on the train from Helsinki to St Petersburg who insist on driving me to my hostel when i arrive late at night in St. Petersburg. Very very grateful. I really didn't feel like navigating the metro system at that time of night. St Petersburg - what a huge city with so many beautiful buildings bordering the canals and the Neva river. Yet so many run down areas too with minimal facilities for the locals. St Petersburg gave my legs a decent work out. The only way to see the place properly is to put on a good pair of shoes, a raincoat (at this time of year) and take to the streets. Although forget the map because it is absolutely useless when all the streets seem to have changed names since mine was printed. Naturally one of my highlights to my visit to St Petersburg was the Hermitage, the Winter Palace. The largest art gallery in the world and a spectacular building as well - see pic. Another highlight was sharing my dorm room with a bunch of lovely Australians and a Canadian. And a small world it is because the aussie practically lives around the corner in Avondale Heights. St Petersburg in a nutshell is enchanting.