Friday, September 25, 2020

St. Petersburg, Russia - Day 2 2009

There is no way to see it all here. You have to choose what is important to you and choose to spend a longer time in fewer places or shorter times in more places. I felt our strenuous tour worked well for us. 

Peterhof fountains were a definite highlight here. Alla presented us with a nice DVD to remember our trip by. (hours of history and pictures of St. Petersburg) We had no problem getting off the ship as we lined up early to get off and as soon as the ship was cleared we exited and headed to immigration. If you wait and they have started ship tours it will certainly make it a long frustrating time to get off the ship and you may be late for your private tour. If you have scheduled your own tour through one of the private companies you are in the group of people they state as having your own visa. (your tour ticket is your blanket visa provided by Alla's Tours) The ship can make it sound like unless you personally have secured a visa you can not get off or make it confusing which group you should exit with.

Our day started early with a shop that provided free shots of vodka. Did I say it was early in the morning? LOL It was a great place to pick up souvenirs. 

Then, we set out to tour more sites.


in the van

white stuff from the trees

Alla stopped by to give us a DVD of St Petersburg
entering the Hermitage








art students copy the original








other wings of the Hermitage







other wings of the Hermitage





waiting to enter the Gold Rooms - no photos

Church on Spilled Blood






inside the church










outside again


wedding party going by
drive to lunch

Stolle Pies for lunch




checking out the menu


meat pie, apple dessert pie
Yusupov's Palace








the long hall had Mike doing a slow creeping walk

St Isaac's Cathedral












apartments on the drive back to the ship

Tomorrow we are touring Helsinki, Finland.





























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