Russia 2006 Journey Day Nineteen
St. Petersburg, Russia
                                    [01 August, 2006] The day was a late start since hotel drapes were  highly effective at keeping 
                                    the outside light out.  So, after lunch (Cold dill soup and tomato salad) at the hotel, it was time to 
                                    purchase train tickets for upcoming Helsinki trip.
 
 
                                    To purchase train tickets, it is not a simple point and click on a website.   One could purchase directly
                                    at the train station; however, cash and Russian language would be required.  So, we checked with the 
                                    American Express Travel office and they referred us to another company down the street and that 
                                    company referred us to another company that handles international tickets.  The entire process did
                                    take the best part of the afternoon - after additional charge for insurance and use of a credit card.
                                    (Connection for American Express verification was down) The representative Olge was very helpful
                                    and thankfully was the sole person in the office to speak English.  
 
 
                                    The remainder of the day and evening was walking St. Petersburg - to view the colorful opera house,
                                    blue and white cathedrals, canal bridges, and yet another color striped, onion domed cathedral.  The
                                    city has significantly more potential than Moscow and no wonder it was the Capitol for over 200 years.
                                    Scaffold is abundant in the city, so, change and restoration is gradually improving.  Their high costs
                                    and lack of mid range hotel rooms may stifle the tourist industry.
 
 
                                    The city was known as the "Venice of the North" since Peter the Great fancied the idea of using 
                                    boats to provide transport around the new city.  Water taxis and canal tours are very popular.  A 
                                    great viewing point is the 100s of steps up to the large cupola of St. Issac - 360 degree picture
                                    spot.  Dinner was a popular crepe and coffee restaurant - Salmon and cheese crepes with a large 
                                    Hoscoe beer finished the day.

 

                                                    St. Petersburg Scenes - Imperial Crest - Looking toward Europe and China   St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)   St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)
                                                    St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)   St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852) on River Neva   St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)
                                                      St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)   St. Petersburg Scenes - Winter Palace (1762) and Hermitage Museum (1852)   St. Petersburg Scenes - General Staff Building (1829)
                                                St. Petersburg Scenes - Palace Square   St. Petersburg Scenes - Tsar Alexander I Column (1834)   St. Petersburg Scenes - General Staff Building (1829)   St. Petersburg Scenes - General Staff Building (1829) - Victory Statue
                                                                St. Petersburg Scene - Winter Palace (Hermitage) Gate   St. Petersburg Scenes - Admiralty (1806) Russia Naval Engineering School   St. Petersburg Scenes - Admiralty (1806) Russia Naval Engineering School   St. Petersburg Scenes - Admiralty (1806) Russia Naval Engineering School
                                        
                                
                                              St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Issac Square and St. Nicholas I Statue   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Issac Cathedral (1858)   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas I Statue   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Issac Cathedral (1858) and Moyka Canal   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Issac Cathedral (1858) Doors
 
                                                        St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas' Cathedral (1762)   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas' Cathedral (1762)   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas' Cathedral (1762)   St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas' Cathedral (1762)
                                                                  St. Petersburg Scenes - St. Nicholas' Cathedral (1762)   St. Petersburg Scenes - Mariinskiy Theatre (1860)   St. Petersburg Scenes - Mariinskiy Theatre (1860) Park
 
                                                            St. Petersburg Scenes - Views from the St. Issac Cathedral Dome   St. Petersburg Scenes - Views from the St. Issac Cathedral Dome   St. Petersburg Scenes - Views from the St. Issac Cathedral Dome
                                                                    St. Petersburg Scenes - Views from the St. Issac Cathedral Dome   St. Petersburg Scenes - Views of St. Issac Cathedral and Book Sculpture   St. Petersburg Scenes - Rostral Column (1810)
                                    
                                                                St. Petersburg Scenes - Kanal Griboedova and Church on Spilled Blood (1881)    St. Petersburg Scenes - Church on Spilled Blood (1881)    St. Petersburg Scenes - Church on Spilled Blood (1881)
 
                                                St. Petersburg Scenes - River Neva    St. Petersburg Scenes - River Neva    St. Petersburg Scenes - Kanal Griboedova
 
                                                            St. Petersburg Scenes - Riverside Weddings    St. Petersburg Scenes - Riverside Weddings    St. Petersburg Scenes - Riverside Weddings
                                                                         St. Petersburg Scenes - Riverside Wedding Volunteer Band       St. Petersburg Scenes - Wedding Store    St. Petersburg Scenes - River Neva Water Fountains
                                    
                                                    St. Petersburg Scenes - Gostinyy Dvor Shopping Arcade (1785)    St. Petersburg Scenes - Sadovaya Flower Market    St. Petersburg Scenes - Faces in the Building
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