This morning, we had to wake up at around 2am. The buses departed to the airport at about 3am to catch the 5:50am flight to Munich.
At around 3pm, I arrived in Nashville, via Munich and Chicago. Unfortunately, my suitcase did not make it out of Chicago. So, I stayed at the airport until about 5:30pm when the next United flight was going to arrive. Luckily, my suitcase was on this flight.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Catherine's Palace at Pushkin
Today was our last full day in Russia, and we went to Catherine's Palace at Pushkin. It was built for Tsarina Elizabeth and she named it in honor of her mother, Catherine I.
The palace was badly damaged during World War II, but about 20 of the state rooms are now opened. For a fee, pictures are allowed inside in all the rooms except for the Amber Room. This room is completely covered in amber. The Nazis looted the original amber panels but they were either lost or destroyed while in transit. The panels in the current Amber Room are reproductions.
The palace was badly damaged during World War II, but about 20 of the state rooms are now opened. For a fee, pictures are allowed inside in all the rooms except for the Amber Room. This room is completely covered in amber. The Nazis looted the original amber panels but they were either lost or destroyed while in transit. The panels in the current Amber Room are reproductions.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Peterhof
We traveled a little outside of St. Petersburg to Peter the Great's Summer Palace, Peterhof. It is also known as Petrodvorets. It is considered the Russian Versailles.
The main highlight of the palace is the Grand Cascade. This is a collection of fountains that was partially designed by Peter the Great, himself. Also on the grounds of the palace are trick fountains that will surprise those who get too close. We didn't actually go into the main palace building. Instead we went into the Catherine Wing of the Palace. We had to wear booties over our shoes since it was wet outside and they didn't want the floors to get dirty.
In the afternoon, we took a courtesy bus into the city. The traffic was really bad. We walked along some of the canals and crossed the Bankovsky Most which is one of St. Petersburg's most photographed bridges.
Dinner had a Georgian theme. It included "Harcho", which is a medium spicy Georgian soup and Lula-kebab, which is a kebab made from minced lamb meat.
The main highlight of the palace is the Grand Cascade. This is a collection of fountains that was partially designed by Peter the Great, himself. Also on the grounds of the palace are trick fountains that will surprise those who get too close. We didn't actually go into the main palace building. Instead we went into the Catherine Wing of the Palace. We had to wear booties over our shoes since it was wet outside and they didn't want the floors to get dirty.
In the afternoon, we took a courtesy bus into the city. The traffic was really bad. We walked along some of the canals and crossed the Bankovsky Most which is one of St. Petersburg's most photographed bridges.
Dinner had a Georgian theme. It included "Harcho", which is a medium spicy Georgian soup and Lula-kebab, which is a kebab made from minced lamb meat.
Sunday, September 02, 2007
The Hermitage
On the way to the Hermitage Museum, we stopped by the Russian cruiser Aurora. A shot from it's gun signaled the Bolsheviks to storm the Winter Palace at 9:40pm on October 25, 1917.
After leaving the Aurora, we headed to the Hermitage Museum and stood in line. The Hermitage consists of a couple of buildings including the Winter Palace, the Large Hermitage, and the Little Hermitage. Building began in 1754 on the Winter Palace for Tsarina Elizabeth. Much of the interiors were remodeled by Catherine the Great and her successors.
The Hermitage has a collection of over 3 million items. Amongst the many artists who have works contained within the museum are Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Rembrandt.
After the tour of the Hermitage, we had a little time to do some shopping in the museum store. There was also an internet cafe on the premises. It cost 20 rubles (80 cents) for 20 minutes of time.
After dinner, we went to the Menshikoff Concert Hall to see a folk show performance called the "Soul of Russia". Champagne and red caviar was served for free during the intermission.
After leaving the Aurora, we headed to the Hermitage Museum and stood in line. The Hermitage consists of a couple of buildings including the Winter Palace, the Large Hermitage, and the Little Hermitage. Building began in 1754 on the Winter Palace for Tsarina Elizabeth. Much of the interiors were remodeled by Catherine the Great and her successors.
The Hermitage has a collection of over 3 million items. Amongst the many artists who have works contained within the museum are Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Rembrandt.
After the tour of the Hermitage, we had a little time to do some shopping in the museum store. There was also an internet cafe on the premises. It cost 20 rubles (80 cents) for 20 minutes of time.
After dinner, we went to the Menshikoff Concert Hall to see a folk show performance called the "Soul of Russia". Champagne and red caviar was served for free during the intermission.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Arrived in St. Petersburg
Today we arrived in St. Petersburg.
The SIM card I bought in Moscow wasn't working since the ship left the Moscow area to go to Uglich. I was hoping that maybe it was a coverage problem out of the big cities, but it was not working in St. Petersburg as well. So, I think the plan the SIM card is on must be set up to only work in the Moscow area. At least I was able to make a few calls and send some text messages so it wasn't a total waste.
Our first stop in the city tour was a quick stop at the Smolnyy Convent. Next, we stopped by the Rostral Columns to take in the view of the SS Peter and Paul Fortress and the Winter Palace. On the way to the fortress to see the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, we did a little souvenir shopping at a store next to the Cabin of Peter the Great.
After leaving SS Peter and Paul, we made another quick stop at St. Isaac's Cathedral. This is the 4th largest cathedral in the world behind St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London, and the cathedral in Florence.
Our last stop on the city tour was the Church on Spilled Blood. It is also known as the Resurrection Church of Our Saviour. It was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. It bears a strong resemblance to St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
In the afternoon, we took a courtesy bus back into the city from the ship to the Square of Arts. From there, we took a short walk to Nevskiy Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main shopping street. Here we saw the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan which as inspired by St. Peter's in Rome. We also visited Gostiny Dvor which is a very large shopping area.
Somewhere along Nevskiy Prospekt, my father got his small camera stolen by a pickpocket. He's not sure when it happened.
After dinner on board the ship, we headed back into the city center again to see a ballet performance at the Hermitage Theater. The ballet we saw was "Giselle".
The SIM card I bought in Moscow wasn't working since the ship left the Moscow area to go to Uglich. I was hoping that maybe it was a coverage problem out of the big cities, but it was not working in St. Petersburg as well. So, I think the plan the SIM card is on must be set up to only work in the Moscow area. At least I was able to make a few calls and send some text messages so it wasn't a total waste.
Our first stop in the city tour was a quick stop at the Smolnyy Convent. Next, we stopped by the Rostral Columns to take in the view of the SS Peter and Paul Fortress and the Winter Palace. On the way to the fortress to see the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul, we did a little souvenir shopping at a store next to the Cabin of Peter the Great.
After leaving SS Peter and Paul, we made another quick stop at St. Isaac's Cathedral. This is the 4th largest cathedral in the world behind St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London, and the cathedral in Florence.
Our last stop on the city tour was the Church on Spilled Blood. It is also known as the Resurrection Church of Our Saviour. It was built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. It bears a strong resemblance to St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.
In the afternoon, we took a courtesy bus back into the city from the ship to the Square of Arts. From there, we took a short walk to Nevskiy Prospekt, St. Petersburg's main shopping street. Here we saw the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan which as inspired by St. Peter's in Rome. We also visited Gostiny Dvor which is a very large shopping area.
Somewhere along Nevskiy Prospekt, my father got his small camera stolen by a pickpocket. He's not sure when it happened.
After dinner on board the ship, we headed back into the city center again to see a ballet performance at the Hermitage Theater. The ballet we saw was "Giselle".
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