SATURDAY 18TH - ST PETERSBURG

Congratulations Australia. Great election result. Our input tax credits remain intact.

Some trivia. Our tour guide told us today that St. Petersburg gets 30 fine sunny days per year and we have scored two of them. The temperature today got to 21 degrees and the forecast for tomorrow is the same.

As you might expect, St Petersburg is a city of contrasts, really depressing old blocks of residential units in a poor state of repair and spectacular museums and churches.

This morning was spent at The Hermitage, not quite The Louvre but very close with our very competent guide explaining the enormous number of artworks and other exhibits on display. . We were warned to expect delays getting off the ship because of Russian immigration requirements and long queues at the attractions we visited but neither proved to be a problem.

After a Russian lunch complete with musical accompaniment, we visited the Church of the Spilled Blood

and the Church of St. Peter and Paul – both very spectacular and more recognised as tourism attractions rather than places of worship.

 

They both have very complex histories having regard to the changes which have occurred to the Russian political landscape over recent centuries.

Anyone want a ride on a Russian helicopter. We declined.

Tomorrow we have part two of our city exploration. Unless you have a visa, the only way one can go ashore here is as part of an organised excursion.