Sunday 18 August
Our canal ride wasn't until 11:00, so we had time for a slow start. The boat was just about full, but we only wanted to go 1 stop, across the river to Peter and Paul Fortress. This is where St P started, in 1703 with Peter the Great.
We arrived and collected our tickets, but the cathedral queue was very long with tour groups, so we went into the yard near the cannons. As it got closer to noon, more people came, and the show went off with a bang.
By then the queue had just about gone, so we went into the cathedral, which is the burial place of all the royal family, from Peter 1 to the whole family of Nicholas ll who were murdered during the Russian Revolution 1918. This is the shop to buy nativities in, rather than a souvenir shop in town. We had lunch in a park, and got the next tour boat.
It was very full, and so was not as enjoyable as it should have been.
The Russian commentary was loud and it was hard to hear the English on the headphones. It was a good idea to have umbrellas on the boat, but they block the view. The route had been changed, so there were duplicate places, with the same commentary. But we saw some buildings and learnt stuff we hadn't known before.
The canal under the winter palace. No-one wanted to go to the room above, thinking it wasn't safe, but Empress Catherine had a big party so invited people had to go. It didn't fall down, so people went to other parties.
After leaving the boat, we went to St Isaac's Cathedral, the main church of St P, and went up, 500 steps they said. Then we came down, then we went in (they have a museum there and a service was happening in a side chapel with a nice choir), and then out again.
At home we lolled about briefly, then got dressed up and got a bus to the Mariinsky Theatre where we saw Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.
This is one of 2 little models in the foyer, so that you can find your seat.
It's a beautiful building, like many we've seen recently, and the dancing was excellent.
We waited for our 124 bus, but the 350 was waiting, and said 'Technological' on the side, so we jumped in and went home.
After leaving the boat, we went to St Isaac's Cathedral, the main church of St P, and went up, 500 steps they said. Then we came down, then we went in (they have a museum there and a service was happening in a side chapel with a nice choir), and then out again.
At home we lolled about briefly, then got dressed up and got a bus to the Mariinsky Theatre where we saw Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.
It's a beautiful building, like many we've seen recently, and the dancing was excellent.
We waited for our 124 bus, but the 350 was waiting, and said 'Technological' on the side, so we jumped in and went home.
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