Sofi's Blog: The Church of our Saviour on the Spilled Blood

That day we had originally planned to go to the Hermitage for a look at some mummies and ancient pottery, but it was full when we got there and they actually closed the doors, not letting any more people in. We figured that that wasn't going to be pleasant, and we weren't about to stand around waiting for who knows how long, so we moved on to Plan B: The Church of our Saviour on the Spilled Blood. Quite the name, huh?
Well, it's quite the place. From floor to ceiling (and on the ceiling) the walls are covered with mosaics depicting bible stories from the old and new testaments. Massive chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and a balcony up at the very top is surrounded with candles. Must get pretty smoky up there. I don't think that area is open to the public. Anyway, where the cathedral stands is the exact spot where Tsar Alexander II was mortally wounded. It is impossible to capture such opulence and grandeur in pictures.