Excursions in the north of Europe Author:John Barrow Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 34 CHAPTER II. ST. PETERSBURG. Imposing effect of the Public buildings—The three great Streets— The Quay—The Admiralty—The Palaces—Statue of Peter the Gre... more »at—Churches—The Museum —Gardens—Peterhoff—Tzar- skozelo — Cronstadt — Ships of War— Society— Droskies—. Military—The Knout—Departure for Moscow—Travelling— The Road—Appearance of the Country—Approach to Moscow. On approaching St. Petersburg in the steam-boat from Cronstadt, there is so little remarkable in the appearance of the city, that, were it not for the glittering of one or two gilt spires which tower above the mass of building, there would scarcely be an object to interest the eye; but on landing, this is very far from being the case. It was a fine clear night when we entered this city; though past ten, it was still perfectly light, for during the summer months there is scarcely any darkness. The novelty of the scene, added to the pleasing thoughts of my having reached the renowned city of Petersburg, had almost caused me to forget that it was even so late as ten o'clock, and it therefore struck me as remarkable, that, with the exception of one or two of our own countrymen, who were lounging on the quay with cigars in their mouths, and a few drostcy drivers, not a soul wasto be seen in the streets, as I wandered with my fellow-traveller in quest of an hotel. At this early hour, in broad day-light as it were, Petersburg had all the appearance of a deserted city. We very soon experienced the bad accommodation which this Russian capital so notoriously affords to travellers. It was our intention to have taken up our abode at Damuth's, which has the reputation of being the best hotel, but after a long walk,—for it is situated at some distance from where the steam-boat lands her passengers,—and no little difficu...« less