Wednesday Walk on a grey winter day

It snowed during the night and I decided to take a little walk in the park. I didn't have a clear plan. I thought that it would be nice to go to Ekaterinhof Park, or walk around Yusupovsky Garden, or walk along the embankment.... In the end, I left the choice of starting my route to chance. I walked to the public transport stop and got on the first bus that came up. This bus could take me to Alexandrovsky Garden - well, the choice was made!

Alexandrovsky Garden is one of the oldest city gardens. It is located in the very centre of the city, next to Palace Square. Through the branches of the trees of this garden you can see St Isaac's Cathedral and the Admiralty. I walked along the alleys of the garden and came out on the embankment of the Neva River.

The day was grey, but not too frosty. In the west a lighter strip of sky was visible above the horizon, but the rest of the space was covered with dense clouds. The ice on the Neva River has appeared and melted several times this winter, the weather being very unstable this year. Part of the water area is now covered with ice, in other places the water of the Neva River is free from ice fetters.

I walked out onto the Admiralty Embankment and turned right, towards the Palace Bridge. In summer, this embankment is very crowded with tourists, and there is hardly an hour in the day when it is free of passers-by. But on this winter day there were few strollers. The slopes in the water are blocked by grates. I don't know what this is all about - they don't usually do this. Perhaps, the passage to the water was closed for safety reasons: the constant alternation of thaw and frost makes the steps very slippery.

The figures of lions left their pedestals near the Palace Pier and went for restoration. It's a sad story, really. For some reason, many tourists consider it a matter of honour to take pictures of their children sitting on the backs of the lions. Some parents think it is necessary to sit on the lions' backs with the whole family. The metal sculptures are not designed for such a load, and often need restoration.

I crossed the Palace Bridge and headed along the University Embankment past the Kunstkamera towards the new fountain. Unfortunately, the gate leading to the fountain was closed. It was predictable - after all, fountains are switched off for the winter. But I hoped that the gate was open, because in this small garden there is one more attraction besides the fountain. It is a small bronze figure of an angel sitting on a stone bench. I reached the Rumyantsev Garden and there I finished my walk.

This is my entry for the #WednesdayWalk challenge by @tattoodjay.