Russia

Now in St Petersburg
Have done a detailed Facebook entry tonight
So some of these pics may be similar

To get here - a five hour bus trip from Helsinki taking 40 mins to clear 48 passengers and a bus through customs. Yes it is a full bus, I’ve never been in a group as big but tour leader is on top of it all,
Liz and I miss the friends we made on last group but take off on our own when not organised although we are doing most of the extras as language crowds and shortage of available time have made it necessary.
Most of my case comprises of winter gear and no room for extra bits n pieces.
First we did Peter and Paul fortress and chapel with a guide with a light hearted approach then we took a canal cruise to view the spectacular buildings from the water instead of glimpses through bus windows. This area is known as The Venice of the North . It was great fun
Today we had three sites, St Isaacs Cathedral. The 4 th largest in the world with its interior comprising of malachite and other precious materials, then The Church of the Saviour of Spilt Blood , so many tiny mosaics covering huge areas which had been frescoes .
After a lunch break we gathered for a guided tour of the iconic Hermitage, and yes Rodger, I did see the Golden Peacock but it only moves once a week, and we had five minutes in the room , shuffling in crowds for two hours, collapsing back at the hotel on 5
A big day tomorrow with a folklore evening to follow then off to Moscow the following day by high speed trainWeiterlesen