ST.PETERSBURG RUSSIA'S "WINDOW ON EUROPE"-A Time for Reflection

During the week of May 24 to June 1, hundreds of thousands of visitors to St.Petersburg shared in the celebration of its 300-year anniversary. As they enjoyed the results of the massive preparatory work, many reflected on the city's beauty and remarkable history.

Coincidentally, just the week before, many had visited St.Petersburg for the dedication of the enlarged facilities of the Russian branch of Jehovah's Witnesses, located in the city's suburbs.  The following day, 9,817 met in the Kirov Stadium in St. Petersburg to hear both a review of the dedication program and encouraging reports about the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses in may countries.

More Than Can Be Seen

Visitors to St.Petersburg often feel that there is so much to see that they do not know where to start.  Such is the dilemma in the Hermitage. It has been estimated   that if one were to spend a minute on each object in the hundreds of display rooms, it would take years to complete the tour.

Others consider one of St.Petersburg's riches treats to be its ballet.  For example, in the famous Mariinsky Theater, one may sit beneath the ornate crystal chandeliers surrounded with almost 900 pounds  of gold.  In this setting, what is possibly some of its best ballet in the world can be seen.

A simple walk in this city of about five million inhabitants can yield the rewarding experience of seeing elegant buildings along the Neva River. Just traveling  by the city's marvelous underground  metro, one of the deepest in the world, can itself be cultural treat. Over two million people a day ride the metro, traveling between its more than 50 stations on about 60 miles of track. Some stations are among the most beautiful to be found anywhere.  In 1955, the year of the metro's opening, The New York Times called the stations "a series of twentieth century underground palaces."  

Indeed, it is difficult not to be impressed by St.Petersburg-by its spectacular creation and development as well as its enduring legacy of beauty, art, culture, education, and music.  Whatever their interests are, visitors may well agree with the reference work that calls St.Petersburg  "one of the most beautiful cities of Europe." 

Next time: Teaching Your Child About Sex

From the  jw.org publication