Nancy and Ron travels: Thursday, May 16- St Petersburg

We have arrived in Russia. It is early and we have a long day ahead. We have to meet our tour at 6:45 so we are ready for breakfast at 5:30 and so are most other passengers. We make our way to our meeting place and then we are herded out to our bus. There are three bus full of people doing the same tour as we are. Our guide is Andrei and his helper is William. Andrei is very well spoken and very knowledgeable. This excursion is called- City Highlights and Pushkin. Our first destination, which is about 40 minutes away is the Catherine Palace. She was the Monarch who had her husband, Peter the 1st, killed by a coup d'état. Our guide said that she was a very good ruler unlike another Monarch, Elizabeth who was very extravagant and had many of the rooms remodeled to her liking.

Gates on one end of the palace

Catherine Palace

Band set up to entertain us as we wait for the place to open. It was 30 minutes late, quite favourably for this group as they were pushing their CDs

Long entrance to Palace

Inside one of the rooms. The gold everywhere was a bit much

This is part of what was the hall of mirrors. Reminded me of Versailles

Our guide Andrei

the flooring in one of the rooms

Antique desk

The Green room

In order to walk in the Palace, everyone has to put these light weight paperlike shoe covers, put a coat in the cloakroom and had in a backpack.

We then walk around the grounds of the Palace.

Stairs going up to the previous building (in photo on top)

Amazing tenors in a domed building. They gave us a short rendition.

Walkway to another smaller summer place

We return to our bus to drive around town, getting stuck in traffic most of the time. There are 5 million people living in this city. There are also loads of other tourists traveling in buses. As we drive our guide points to many interesting sites. Unfortunately we are not visiting most of them.

Church of the Epiphany for the Tzar Nicholas

Look alike with St Peter's square in Vatican City

St Isaac Cathedral. Our guide told us that is the largest Orthodo church in Russia and the 4th largest in the world after St Peter's at the Vatican, St Paul's in London, and Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.

We stop for a photo opportunity

The Hermitage is in the background

The Hermitage, on the left. Hermitage means "place for hermit". It was the winter palace of the Tzars.

It is time for lunch so we stop where the other two buses are. There are two washrooms for women and there are over 100 people there, at least 50 women... Nothing to say about the meal. Something to hold us until we return to our wonderful meals.

After lunch it is shopping time. We are given 15 minutes or so in one big souvenir shop. Are you kidding?? At least four other buses have stopped here as well. I walk in and walk out. Everything is so overpriced. The others follow soon afterwards. Funny enough there's a guy outside with souvenirs: magnets, hats, etc. Some people buy from him.

Time to visit our final stop. Peter and Paul Fortress which is really a church.

Peter and Paul church. All of the Russian Monarchs/Tzars and some family members are buried here. The Church is named for the two Apostles.

Statue of Peter the 1st. His head is a normal size but the creator wanted to make his body a lot larger. It was first rejected by the people but is now accepted.

Part of the altar inside the church

One of the tombs

We visit for about 45 minutes then it's back on the bus headed back to the ship. Our dinner reservations are only at 7:30 tonight as we knew we would be back late. We shower and lay low for a while before going to the dining room.