Winter light in St Petersburg

Monday 8 February

Everywhere I look I see paintings, impressionist paintings. I'll have plenty to paint when I get back to London. The light is stunning, especially as the Sun goes down.

Trubetskoy Bastion

Ducks swimming in the frozen Neva, chilly feet.

Above is the Palace Stroganov

The corner building above is the House of Books, one of the largest bookshops in St Petersburg.

Today was my day off. I arranged Russian lessons for Mondays and explored the city.

St Petersburg—first Sunday

Sunday 7th February

With a stomach full of pancakes, I went to the museum for an hour or so in the morning. I don't know quite what to call this giant black dish, but it's huge. Did a sketch of Jupiter, then met with a couple of the volunteers who showed me some St Petersburg sights, until we got too cold. Below is the Armenian church—for Katherine and Mike.

Found the music to Dr Zhivago in the cupboard in my room, so found myself playing it on the piano, which is also in my room, this evening. Funny because I watched it for the first time on the plane over here. I must admit I find the tune a little creepy, it reminds me of circuses.