Trans-Siberian - St. Petersburg and Moscow: Difference between revisions

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Immediately after landing in St. Petersburg (via Frankfurt), I got my first taste of the adventure that was to follow as I navigated the St. Petersburg bus and metro system with no language and minimal ability to descipher the cyrillic alphabet.  Fortunately, I was able to follow the instructions from Intrepid and arrived at the starting hotel with an hour to spare before the 6 o'clock group meeting.
Immediately after landing in St. Petersburg (via Frankfurt), I got my first taste of the adventure that was to follow as I navigated the St. Petersburg bus and metro system with no language and minimal ability to descipher the cyrillic alphabet.  Fortunately, I was able to follow the instructions from Intrepid and arrived at the starting hotel with an hour to spare before the 6 o'clock group meeting.


After introductions, we went to a local restaurant for dinner.  For evening entertainment, some of us went for drinks and a midnight cruise on some of St. Petersburg's canals and to watch the opening of the many bridges across St. Petersburg's main river, the Neva River.
After introductions, we went to a local restaurant for dinner.  For evening entertainment, some of us went for drinks and a midnight cruise on some of St. Petersburg's canals and to watch the opening of the many bridges across St. Petersburg's main river, the Neva River. We staggered back to the hotel very late.
 
[[Image:TS-DSC 0055.jpg|thumb|left|130px|Leaving Toronto]]
[[Image:TS-DSC 0065.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Lifting bridges on the Neva River]]
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The next day, I spent a large part of the day touring the Hermitage Musuem, one of the largest art galleries in the world.  In addition to the Picasso's, Da Vinci's and famous European art, I was struck by the incredible building, the Russian Tsar's Winter Palace that now houses the museum.
 
[[Image:TS-DSC 0111.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Statues]]
[[Image:TS-DSC 0100.jpg|thumb|left|130px|Inlaid wooden floors]]
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[[Image:TS-DSC 0119.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Huge paintings]]
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After the museum, I wandered through some of the streets of the St. Petersburg, then north across the Neva River to the Peter and Paul Fortress which was formerly a prison for political prisoners under the Tsars.  It is now a tourist area and museum.  I had an afternoon nap and then some of us from the group met for dinner.
[[Image:TS-DSC 0076.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Nevsky Prospect]]
[[Image:TS-DSC 0123.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Palace Square]]
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[[Image:TS-DSC 0133.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Russian bear]]
[[Image:TS-DSC 0142.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Fortress warnings]]
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Revision as of 02:56, 1 September 2006

Trans-Siberian Trip
St. Petersburg and Moscow
   ... more photos
The Trans-Siberian
Siberia
The Trans-Mongolian
   ... more photos
The Ger Camp
   ... more photos
China
   ... more photos

For the first four days, we toured St. Petersburg and Moscow.

Immediately after landing in St. Petersburg (via Frankfurt), I got my first taste of the adventure that was to follow as I navigated the St. Petersburg bus and metro system with no language and minimal ability to descipher the cyrillic alphabet. Fortunately, I was able to follow the instructions from Intrepid and arrived at the starting hotel with an hour to spare before the 6 o'clock group meeting.

After introductions, we went to a local restaurant for dinner. For evening entertainment, some of us went for drinks and a midnight cruise on some of St. Petersburg's canals and to watch the opening of the many bridges across St. Petersburg's main river, the Neva River. We staggered back to the hotel very late.

Leaving Toronto
Lifting bridges on the Neva River


The next day, I spent a large part of the day touring the Hermitage Musuem, one of the largest art galleries in the world. In addition to the Picasso's, Da Vinci's and famous European art, I was struck by the incredible building, the Russian Tsar's Winter Palace that now houses the museum.

Statues
Inlaid wooden floors
Huge paintings


After the museum, I wandered through some of the streets of the St. Petersburg, then north across the Neva River to the Peter and Paul Fortress which was formerly a prison for political prisoners under the Tsars. It is now a tourist area and museum. I had an afternoon nap and then some of us from the group met for dinner.

Nevsky Prospect
Palace Square


Russian bear
Fortress warnings