ST PETERSBURG--DAY 1

 Background Info:

       This is the second largest city in Russia with a population of 5 million (more than total population of either Norway or Finland) and is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.  Most of us “old folks” may remember it as Leningrad, but the name was changed in 1991 back to its actual original name, Saint Petersburg, when it was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great.  Of course the largest city in Russia is Moscow which is 400 miles southeast of here.  St Petersburg is also known as "Venice of the North" due to all the canals here.  We will be doing a canal tour on day 3 here.

        Because of its location having access to the Baltic, Saint Petersburg is a major trade gateway for Russia.  Industries here include:  oil and gas trade, shipbuilding, aerospace, radio & electronics, software & computers, machine building, heavy machinery including tanks and other military equipment, mining, chemicals, medicines & medical equipment, publishing & printing, food & catering, apparel, and automotive.  I should not leave out that the city has a lot of local distilleries which produce a wide range of vodka brands.  It also have a significant number of breweries and is known as the “beer capital” of Russia.  Saint Petersburg is also a VERY popular cruise ship destination so thousands of tourists visit here every summer.

        Saint Petersburg is home to more than 200 museums.  The Hermitage Museum is probably the largest art museum in the world with over 3 million pieces of art.  There are also more than 50 theaters for opera and ballet with the world famous Mariinsky Theater being one.

        The average temperature here in July is 73F but snow covers the ground most of the four month period of December to March.  The humidity averages 78% and it is overcast on average about half of the year.  Not my kind of climate!  Today there was rain in the forecast but it has been a beautiful, sunny day with a temperature of 75 degrees and nice breeze.
        We were suppose to go to see a Russian song and dance program in a concert hall this evening but only Jane has decided to go.  It is now 6:00 pm and I have been working on this blog posting for over 3 hours now.  Time to shower and head up for a cocktail.  We lost another hour of time last night so I am tired.  We are now 9 hours ahead of Dallas time.  Some people are also going to see a Russian ballet tonight so the ship should be very quite with most everyone off.  Tour tomorrow is at 7:45 am.

 There are 4 cruise ships in port with us today.  This is the Emerald Princess which I believe will be cruising out of the Port of Houston this fall.

                                           Royal Caribbean's "Serenade of the Seas".

                                                           Our tour for today.

                          Some apartments.  Almost everyone lives in apartments and not houses.

                                                       some newer apartments      

                           Silver Whisper, a Silverseas ship docked on Neva River closer to sights

                                           The Neva River and deep enough for small ships

St Isaac's Cathedral, the largest here 4th largest in world) and can hold 14,000 people.  It is a Russian Orthodox cathedral.

            It took 40 years to build (completed in 1858) and each of the columns weighs 114 tons.

 

                                                                  our tour guide

                                                                   Now a hotel

                                             The Winter Palace undergoing renovations

                        This line of 4 palaces on Neva River now make up the Hermitage Museum

                             Across the water is the Fortress and Cathedral of St Peter & Paul

                Sun not in good position for photo of the 4 palaces that are now The Hermitage

                                           The old Stock Exchange but now empty

                                                         Fortress and Cathedral again

                                Looks like a boat but isn't and never was.  It's a nice restaurant.

                                 Tourists not Russian girls.  Russian girls are more attractive!!

                             We stopped here for a potty break and some souvenir shopping

 This is the entrance to St Peter & Paul Fortress which had 200 guns to protect it but were never used.  Built between 1706-1740 to protect against the Swedish.  In early 20th century it was a prison.  Today it is "State Museum of St Petersburg History".  The St Peter & Paul Cathedral is also inside it.

                          This is inside the old fortress and now where they mint money (coins).

 This is the St Peter & Paul Cathedral.  A Russian Orthodox Cathedral built between 1712-1733.

                     This was Peter the Great's boat house.  Boats were made for his generals.

                                                         Side of cathedral

                                                                      Ceiling

Remains of almost all of the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II are laid to rest here.  The crypt is actually 9 feet below ground but these Italian marble tombs are seen.

                                                             American tourists??

Every thing that looks like gold is actually soft wood that is carved and then covered with gold leaf.  This is the pulpit.

                                            On right with bust is tomb of Peter the Great.

If you have seen the movie, "Dr Zhivago", this is where Tsar Nicholas II and Catherine were eventually buried.  Many others who were killed then are also buried here. 

                                The bell tower is the world's tallest Orthodox bell tower.

Officers Guardhouse

                                             Peter the Great monument inside the fortress.  Body parts are not proportional.  While our guide was telling us about this one of the men in our group had is wallet pick-pocked.  He it right away but did not know who did it.  Rebecca said she saw 3 or 4 men come into our group.  They also got his passport which is a HUGE problem.  They will not let him back on the ship until he goes to Consultant and get a new one.  This could take a day.  He was not to smart as had all his credit cards and $800 cash besides his passport.  You have to be a smart traveler!!!

Marble Palace which is now Museum of Fine Arts

                                                                    Canal boats

                                                  Part of wedding party at church below

 Completed in 1907 this is one of St Petersburg's main sights, "The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood", or more commonly, Spilled Blood Cathedral.  It was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated and dedicated to his memory.  It differs from other St Petersburg's architecture in that it is predominately Baroque and Neoclassical.  It features mosaics in the construction.

across the street and not part of the church

 

                                                             Longest street here

                                      Tour boats on a canal.  We will do this tour on day #3

Hotel now

                                              Lutheran Church of St Petersburg

Most famous monument in St Petersburg, "Peter the Great Monument".

                                                  Oldest palace in St Petersburg

                                                       Academy of Fine Arts

                                                       "Church of the Assumption"

                                                                      same church

Yes, we also saw Burger King, KFC, and McDonalds.

                      Older apartments.  Almost everyone lives in apartments and not houses.

                                        More apartments and note they all look like "boxes".

Apartment buildings taken from ship

                                                 The port appears to be fairly new.