On to Russia!

For Americans like us, used to the near-nonexistent rail travel in the U.S., it was a great experience to ride "The Allegro" perfectly on time from Helsinki to St. Petersburg on Sunday, June 12th. We arrived to a continuation of warm, sunny weather and were met by Irina, the young and attractive wife of our guide/translator Nikolai. Irina escorted us by Metro, bus, and on foot to our "Pio B&B" where we're booked for four nights.

Our first full day in St. Petersburg was cloudy and much cooler, but as Nikolai (pictured with Ron) took us around the Nevsky Prospekt area of the historic old city, we were immediately impressed by the similarity of the 18th-19th century buildings, many constructed in ornate Baroque style. In our tour of the area we crossed the Neva and walked through the "Peter & Paul Fortress" (pictured above), constructed by Peter the Great. One cannot visit St. Petersburg without seeing "The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood," constructed after the pattern of St. Basil's in Moscow by Alexander III on the very site where his father, Tsar Alexander II, was assasinated by a terrorist group in 1881. Inside the church are the most incredible mosaics all over the walls and ceilings depicting biblical scenes from both Testaments. (e.g. - Nativity scene below) - rw