Day 2 St Petersburg

Late night then early morning and back past the high apartment blocks to the old city then out to the Peterhof, Summer Palace of the Emperors, enlarged over time to a palace with gardens aiming to rival Versailles . Very busy with tourists everywhere but we still got a good impression of the luxurious interiors enjoyed by the rich before the revolution. Gold leaf and antiquities and portraits as far as the eye can see.





But the jewels were really evident in the Hermitage museum which incorporated the winter palace along the main river in the old town centre. Fabulous interiors and grand masters including Rembrant, da Vinci, Monet and Van Gogh as well as sculptures, portraits, beautiful intricately inlaid furniture and flooring. From one gallery through to the next building we were amazed and jostled in the crowds. The sun didn't shine much but the fold and opulence made up for the gloom and grime.





Next stop Finland, Finland, Finland

Graeme and Wendy

Estonia and St Petersburg

Sunshine in Estonia and a bus ride to Rakevere and a lovely fairly intact medieval fortress above the small town. We got to dress up and play with swords, bows and arrows ( ask me about the bruise ), climb the walls, torture some prisoners and have a feast in the great hall.







Estonia is a small country with lots of trees and a population of only about 2 million who are very happy to be part of the EU and not Russia any more. The capital city, Tallin has cobblestones and you can walk up to the Presidents door step. It survived the wars fairly intact and had quaint streets and dressed up well for the hoards from the ship with a market in the square and folk dancing.





St Petersburg on the other hand is quite enormous. Our guide didn't at all about Russia today but was well versed in the history of the Emperors. The outskirts of the city were grimy and old time industrial but the canals and river with many bridges surrounded by 18th century buildings in various states of repair and more churches than you'd think was fascinating. The churches were impressive and resored to their former glory with tombs of the Emperors Peter and Catherine the Great down to the bones of the last Tsar and family interred in the chuch after being discovered much later after the revolution. The most beautiful was the church built over the assignation site of Alexander the II ( I think ) It was covered with mosaic tiles in Orthodox style and had high domes to heaven.






From churches to a canal ride and then folk show in the evening complete with Cossacks and maids dancing as well as the star Graeme Ross who got to kiss the girl ( twice !!! )





Graeme and Wendy ( if he gets to come home )

Location:Baltic Sea