Day 8, 9/6/15. Lake Ladoga & Svir River

During the night we cruised across Lake Ladoga and onto the Sivir River this morning. Ladoga is Europe's largest lake. During the voyage on the river we went through two locks. We stopped at the village of Mandrogy and while there Sue and I painted Matryoshka Dolls. These are the famous "nesting dolls". It turned out to be quite fun, made more so by our host "witch". The day was lovely and the less hectic day was most welcome. We attended a couple of talks and Sue went to a Russian language class. Had a lovely dinner with our table mates and then off to bed for an early morning.

Day 7, 9/5/15. Peterhof Palace and Water Tour

Today an early start to visit the magnificent Peterhof Palace and Gardens. This was Peter the Great's "Versailles" by the sea. He constructed this palace on the Gulf of Finland as his main access to the sea. The palace is full of opulent mirrored rooms decorated with paintings and gilded wooden carvings. This was the most exquisite of all the palaces we visited. This one was completely destroyed by the Nazi's but has been restored to all it's grandeur. From the marble terrace we watch the Grand Cascade, made up of 3 waterfalls, 64 fountains and 37 statues. Water is conveyed over a distance of 12 miles without pumping stations. The gardens are just magnificent. We strolled down to the Bay and back. Wonderful!!
We returned to the ship for lunch and then off on our water tour of this magnificent city. The weather was threatening and we got a lightning & thunder show but now rain the whole time on the canal boat. We cruised through various canals and on the rivers that make up the "highways" of the city. The views of all the gorgeous buildings from the water was stunning. Eye candy everywhere. Going through the town, ducking under bridges, waving to people with the wind in our hair was great fun. As beautiful as this city is on land it is even more exquisite from the water. Words don't do St Petersburg justice.
 We ended our tour with a visit inside the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior. The walls are covered in icon mosaics from floor to ceiling. Each one a beautiful work of art. Altogether it is overwhelming.
 We disembarked just before dinner bidding this beautiful city goodbye.

Day 6, 9/4/15. Catherine's Palace; st Petersburg City Tour

Very busy few days so posting a little behind. Today we covered a lot of ground. We began with a tour of a tour of Catherine I Place which was built for her by her husband Peter the Great and finished by their daughter Elizabeth. Burned to the ground during the siege of St Petersburg it has been beautifully restored and is a striking example of Russian baroque architecture. It is ornate throughout and strikingly exhibits the gap between the royalty and the people. During the tour we visit the Amber Room which the Nazi's stripped completely. The Amber embedded panels that lined the walls and all the Amber in all the rest of the room has yet to be found. The reconstructed room is breathtaking and restored in great detail but not with real Amber. After touring the Palace we stroll through the beautiful gardens. Then we return to the ship for a brief lunch and then off on a city tour.
 St Petersburg was founded to be the main port of western Russia to connect Russia to the major ports of norther Europe and as as water way to the east and central Russia. It's comprised of 101 islands and 66 canals. The city is well preserved as the Nazi's never entered the city and their bombing was not very effective. The Nazi's did lay siege to the city with intense fighting in the outskirts for 900 days. Starvation was the main killer, not bullets or bombs. We toured the Peter & Paul fortress, the burial spot of most of the Czars, drove down Nevsky Prospekt with all its beautiful building and shops, walked in the great Hermitage Square and finished at the Church of Ou Savior on Spilled Blood. This magnificent church was built on the exact spot where Alexander II was assassinated. We will visit the interior tomorrow.
 Back to the ship for dinner with our tablemates and to bed for an early rise tomorrow.

Day 5, 9/3/15

This was a very busy day. In the morning we went to The Hermitage. What started off as a place of seclusion for Catherine The Great became the Winter Palace and then one of the worlds most splendid museums. There are over a 1000 rooms and 3,000,000 works of art. There are works from da Vinci, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Gogh and many more. The building and Palace Square are magnificent and the interior is exquisite and opulent. After our return we had a brief rest before an early dinner and then off to the ballet to see Swan Lake. Back late and right to sleep to be ready to depart at 7:30 am.

Day 4, 9/2/15

Travel day today. Walked to the train station after breakfast and boarded our Train to St Petersburg. After a briefing from our guide she handed me the ticket vouchers and said now you are in charge. When we crossed into Russia the border control came on board and asked me a few questions about our group trip and then asked about purchases we made and was anyone carrying more than $10,000. I at first said I couldn't answer for everyone but without a trace of a smile he asked me the question again and told me the correct answer was"No"! I obeyed and that was the end of customs for our group.
 In our rom and off to dinner. Had a entertaining orientation. Full day of touring the next 2 days. Hermitage, Catherine's Palace and a city tour along with a ballet tomorrow night. My pocket is loaded with rubles.

Day 3, Tallinn, Estonia

After breakfast we boarded a bus to the the port and then got on the ferry to Tallinn. The ferry seemed very new and quite clean. It was the size of a small ocean liner. Smooth ride the whole way. Once we disembarked we met our guide, Roman. He was charming although a little intense as he forced himself to stay on script. He did have a nice dry sense of humor. Tallinn is twice as old as Helsinki yet still young compared to most Europen Capitols. It dates to the 16th century and the architecture is very Medevil having been enflunced by the Germans, Swedes and Russians. The "Old Town" is beautifully preserved and you feel the history as you walk the cobblestone streets. Estonia became a independent country in 1917 but then come under the Soviet Union after WWII. They regained their independence again after the collapse of the USSR. The people are charming and very welcoming. We finished our tour in a beautiful plaza that had a lot in common with Siena, Italy. After tea and a cappuccino waiting out a a brief shower we strolled through the remainder of "Old Town" supporting the local economy. Then we headed to the harbor and boarded our ship for the return to Helsinki. We had dinner on board with a lovely couple from Saratoga Springs.
 Tomorrow off to the train to St Petersburg after breakfast.

Helsinki, Aug 31, 2015. Helsinki is a beautiful, modern Capitol. Finland has only been a country since 1812. The architecture is clean and pleasant. No sense of "old" Europe. Wonderful city to walk. We caught a fantastic day. Food has been very good. Walking tour today. Tired feet. The people are very charming and everyone speaks English quite well.