I am not into collecting things, so I put a lot of thought into what I want to bring back with me from my travels. The smaller the item, the better, and I usually try to ensure that it has both practicality and sentimental value. I have never, therefore, considered bringing back the blueprints of an entire continent. Standing in the middle of Palace Square in Saint Petersburg, however, I feel that is exactly what has happened. Despite the candy colored minarets of its orthodox cathedrals, this city looks and acts like a replica of what I have seen in Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam. In fact the Winter Palace with its opulent stucco façade, Baroque reception rooms, and halls full of gilded chandeliers echo the rococo interior of Versailles. Saint Isaac’s Cathedral with its neoclassical columns and a golden dome are shades of Rome and Palladian villas. Meanwhile the bridges and numerous canals of “Peter the Great’s” capital faintly mirror those of Amsterdam. Does this prevent Saint Petersburg from being a unique destination? By no means, but it has made me realize the unique role of the travel souvenir.
Souvenirs are curious objects. Like talismans or crystal balls they have magical powers. One glance at them and we are zipped way across space and time to the memory of rain-washed streets at night, the recollection of a stranger’s laugh, or the remembrance of a curious incident abroad. Cheap or expensive, the worth of a souvenir goes beyond the object’s market value, culling instead from an intrinsic standard within ourselves.
“A souvenir captures the fulfillment of a dream, it is a tangible expression of our adventures.”
A way to remind ourselves and tell the world, “Look I have gone there and done that!” As a traveler I do not have much room for souvenirs, but even I cannot escape that inexplicable tug of possession. I wander around a destination and suddenly I want to own a little piece of the place that has succeeded in seducing me. So, over the years I have accumulated a tiny folio of Shakespeare’s plays I pounced upon at the Globe Theater, a miniature glass cat with amber eyes made for me in Murano, and a knit woolen cap from a farmer’s market in Pisac among other trifles. These knick-knacks have become more than stuff around the house. They are bridges forever connecting me to the worlds I have explored.
When tsar Peter traveled throughout western Europe, he must have felt as if he was exploring a new world. He was the first Russian royal to visit with his western counterparts and the experience must have been a huge culture shock. Like any first time traveler, he wanted to see and do everything from building ships, to painting seascapes, and even learning dentistry. Naturally, when he was forced to return home, he wanted to bring it all back with him. But the ruler of an empire cannot simply purchase a few bric-a-brac to escort back. So, Peter the Great set about recreating at home the structure of cities he had toured, embracing the clothing of military guards he had witnessed, and adopting the customs of western European nobility he had encountered. All this is manifested most in Saint Petersburg, the marshy terrain at the edge of his empire which he sought to replicate into a new Europeanized Russia. It is evident in the city’s rectangular grid of canals, its layout of streets, and its architectural ode to classical European designs. Even the capital’s original name is Germanic. Beyond these superficialities, Saint Petersburg has about it a cosmopolitan ambience that makes it appear completely at home seated next to Leipzig, Manchester, or Vienna. There is an air of urbanity, an all-knowing wink that Saint Petersburg gives which seems to say, “I’m familiar with the way things are done elsewhere.”
Though much of the city was finished after the death of Peter the Great, I cannot help seeing everywhere in Saint Petersburg evidence of the tsar’s great love affair with his travels. Standing astride the Neva River, this Russian metropolis has managed to preserve intact the look of three centuries of impeccable European architectural styles. It fills its streets with museums, galleries, libraries, and theaters, continually hosts international art exhibits and music festivals, and is the womb of the esteemed Russian ballet. Its world-class Hermitage museum houses artwork from Raphael to Joshua Reynolds. Structurally, culturally, and socially Saint Petersburg is Russia’s gateway to the rest of the western world. If Peter the Great were to visit the port he began building in 1703, he would recognize it as a thoroughly life-sized souvenir of his European adventures.
In Saint Petersburg I realize travel can inspire many different passions. Wanting to learn a new language, hankering to recreate the local cuisine, or coveting the garb of a foreign culture. We may never pursue these passions once we return home, so instead we buy a few souvenirs to remind us of the colors that dazzled us, the strange songs we heard, and the streets we thought we knew so well. Ultimately a souvenir is a love letter, a bit of the unique place we stayed for a while now made exceptional by the thoughts and emotions we put into it. I wonder what I will decide to take home from Saint Petersburg, the souvenir of European cities, as my souvenir.
TRAVEL NOTE:
From the beginning, Saint Petersburg was intended as the nerve center for European culture to be introduced to the tsarist empire. The Kuntskamera, founded by Peter the Great in 1727, was the first museum in Russia. It was established to house the tsar’s collection of rarities and now contains over two million items related to Anthropology and Ethnography.
What has been your favorite souvenir? What souvenir still reminds you of an adventure you have had?
Bespoke Traveler 
absolutely love the pictures you have taken. I buy too much souvenirs and take very little pictures haha
what camera do you use??
Thank you. We like to think of our travel photos as our version of souvenirs. The photos in this article were taken using a Canon Powershot.
Oh I have always wanted to go to Saint Petersburgh, such a historical and beautiful city to behold and I love your photos. Yes, I know just what you mean about souvenirs, wanting to find just the right, small thing as a reminder of that special time when you were right there, at that special place. I hope you will let us know what your souvenir will be this time 🙂
🙂 Thank you Sherri. I ended up buying a set of measuring cups made to look like Matryoshka dolls (so each cup nestles inside the other) while in Saint Petersburg. Now when I use them for cooking, I’ll think about my time in St P.
What a wonderful souvenir! My daughter loves all things Russian and has a set of Matryoshka dolls. But your measuring cups sound absolutely delightful 🙂
wow, awesome pictures!
Perhaps if I save up and visit St. Petersburg, I won’t need to visit all those other places? 🙂 It’s a city of such fascination for me. I used to collect plates for our delft rack, but that can get out of hand 😦
Heheh. I’m sure those other places also have their distinctive charms, but definitely save up to see Saint Petersburg. Speaking of delft, have you seen the display collection they have (not sure if it is still exhibited) of Queen Mary’s (of William and Mary) delft collection inside Hampton Court Palace?
It’s such a long time since I was at Hampton Court! I don’t have any recollection of a delft display 😦
It was probably a temporary exhibit at the time. I too have not been there in awhile!
Oh this is such a beautiful city. Yes one more tick on the list. We have a Starbucks mug collection which is not a very practical souvenir as we do carry on only. 🙂 We also like bringing back a local art piece, something small, from each country.
🙂 Local art is always a wonderful souvenir, I find, as it captures a piece of the destination, introduces us to an artist, and looks great on the wall!
Ooooh, beautiful pictures! St. Petersburg is on my bucket list, and thanks for giving me inspiration and motivation to make the trip happen sooner than expected.
🙂 Glad to help. Thanks for stopping by!
I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award! Keep up the wonderful posts (:
Thank you. We appreciate the nomination.
Really lovely and interesting virtual tour! Thanks for taking me there and reminding my memories from this special city. Bye. Kamila
I studied and visited this city. Amazing! My souvenir was an even bigger willing to keep studying the language and the wish one day to go back and visit some other beautiful places of this huge country. Great post 🙂
What a wonderful souvenir to acquire from a visit to Saint Petersburg! Hope you are progressing well with your Russian studies.
Hi,
My best souvenir is a photo of my husband and I in a crazy unsafe roller coaster in an amusement park in Cologne, Germany. Looking at my face expression really reminds me how mental our adventure was.
Photographs do make the best (and environmentally friendly) souvenirs. 🙂 Yours sounds like a wonderful memento of a memorable time. Thanks for sharing your souvenir story.
I have always wanted to visit Russia and St. Petersburg. You give such a unique perspective of the city and have only increased my desire to go there! 🙂
🙂 Well I hope you make it over to Saint Petersburg to explore the city for yourself! Thanks for dropping by.
Having a small tangible reminder of one’s trip is a wonderful thing.
If the souvenir is meaningful it can spark vivid memories of the adventure.
Great post, I took an anthropology course in uni and the whole discussion of trading goods with other regions and finding those objects when excavating is what this post reminded me of. The idea of taking national structures themselves and calling them souvenirs is a clever point of view.
I had not thought of the connection between my post and archeologic finds before you mentioned it. I imagine these artifacts are integral in understanding how ancient civilizations interacted with each other and perhaps even where ideas and inventions began. Thanks for sharing about your course discussion, it sounds like an intriguing class.
Great post! I know the history and origin of our Russian cities but I’ve never thought of Saint Petersburg as a huge souvenir from Europe. I have been to St Petersburg a couple of times and I was impressed by its beauty.
Saint Petersburg is so unique because of its amalgamation of Western Europe and classical Russia. I’m glad you have enjoyed your visits to it!
I like your thoughts on souvenirs