Survival in Saint Petersburg

A doughnut shop rarely makes it onto the typical tourist's bucket list, but for Australian travellers Adam and Louise, it is in a humble, Soviet-era doughnut shop that they find the heart of Saint Petersburg. What begins as a simple stop turns into an encounter with an elderly woman who seems completely out of place. This woman is Ekaterina Komarova-an 89-year-old who, through an interpreter, reveals a life story woven into the very fabric of the city itself.

As Adam and Louise journey through the city's highlights, including the Hermitage Museum, the Church on Spilled Blood, the Amber Room in the Catherine Palace, and the labyrinthine canals, the landmarks become more than just a visual feast. They take on a deeper significance when intertwined with Ekaterina's personal history, a history marked by the trauma, tragedy, and unparalleled beauty that have defined the city. Saint Petersburg is renowned for its stunning architecture and vibrant culture, but its past is marked by turmoil: the Purges, the Siege of Leningrad, the Russian Revolution, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The city stands as a monument to both its grandeur and its scars.

For Adam and Louise, the city's stunning beauty is no longer just a collection of sights; it becomes a living history, seen through the eyes of Ekaterina. In a city with two distinct faces-one dazzling, one dark-they gain an insight that transcends the typical tourist experience.

The greatest stories often emerge from the most unexpected places.