arriving at Pulkovo Airport, St Petersburg Saturday 5/24
arriving at cruise ships along Neva River
anyone can see this is the Ivan Bunin
some other cruise ships docked here too
walking to Palace Square, Winter Palace, Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg, Sunday 5/25
in Palace Square, across from Winter Palace, Triumphal Arch crowned by Carlo Rossi's 16-ton sculpture of the Winged Glory celebrating defeat of Napoleon in 1812
In 1764, Catherine the Great created the Hermitage in the Winter Palace for a place to display Dutch and Flemish paintings she'd purchased in Berlin. Subsequent czars expanded the collection
after Hermitage tour, on way to bus for Peterhoff tour, passed this building
Peterhof, Peter the Great's Summer Palace, 30 km west of St Petersburg on Gulf of Finland near town ofr Tsarkoye Selo in 1709 - this is nearing entrance
Fountains fed by canals from Gulf of Finland grace the back of the palace
this is one of 144 fountains on the grounds
over 4,000 peasants and soldiers dug the canals, gardens and parks; over 20 km of canals use gravity, no pumps, to pressurize water
Gulf of Finland is eastern edge of Baltic Sea
this fountain randomly turns on and the kids love to run across it
The blue-domed cathedral is that of St Nicholas, built in 1762, known as the Sailor's Church. St Nicholas was patron saint of sailors.
one of our tour guides
On October 24, 1917, Lenin gave the command for the start of the October Revolution. The battleship Aurora fired a blank shot at the Hermitage, across the river, the signal for the Red Army troops to storm the Winter Palace.
St Issac's Cathedral
the Square in front of St Issac's Cathedral
Peter and Paul Fortress built by Peter the Great in 1703
lighthouse by Admiralty building
from Admiralty Lighthouse, golden dome of St Issac's right center, Strelka spire left center, Hermitage to left
word on right side is "Aurora"
another view of St Issac's Cathedral and Hermitage
When built in 1732, the spire of the Peter and Paul Cathedral inside the Peter and Paul Fortress was the tallest structure in Russia. Peter the Great purposely made it taller than the Bell Tower in Moscow's Kremlin. Camouflaged during the Siege of Leningrad it was not hit by German bombs or artillery.
The elaborately decorated Church of the Savior of the Blood was erected off Nevsky Prospekt, on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated in 1881 by a revolutionary group.
His successor, Alexander III, ordered the altar built where the former czar's blood fell on the cobblestones.
looking down Griboyedov Canal from Church of the Savior on the Blood
many underground street crossings in St Petersburg and Moscow like this one under Nevsky Prospekt, St Petersburg's main street
modern art between Metro station and our boat
Underway Tuesday, May 27. There are 18 locks in the Volga-Baltic canal system between St Petersburg and Moscow. Our river cruise traced path followed by Vikings a thousand years ago on their way to Byzantium.
The village of Verkhnie Mandrogi, destroyed during WWII, was rebuilt as a resort in 1996. The village is now a center for master craftsmen and offers an unrivalled selection of souvenirs. River cruise groups get a special deal 5% discount.
Wednesday, May 28, we make our northernmost stop on Kizhi Island in Lake Onega in Karelia just south of the White Sea.
The main attraction is the 37-meter high wooded Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, built in 1714, to honor Peter the Great's victory over the Swedes. Over 30,000 curved silverish aspen shingles were handmade to cover the 22 cupolas of the triple-tiered roof.
Church graveyard. Russian Orthodox crosses point the way to Heaven or, if interested, to Hell.
This chapel is one of a collection of 19th century exhibits from northern Russia.
This bell tower and the surrounding structures have been established as a UNESCO site.
Thursday, May 29, heading to Goritsy village and Kirilov Monastery, we pass this old church where, we're told, a blind child's sight was miraculously restored.
Founded during reign of Ivan I in 14th century, Krillov Monastery was rebuilt in 18th century and is now a museum.
This gate-keeper's lodge is next to a tiny church known as the "casket studded with precious stones" according to my tour book and another, more pedestrian name, the Church of the Placing of the Robe, according to a sign in front of it.
Friday, May 30th. Countryside is changing from rural to urban as we move south towards Moscow.
Yaroslavl, the Jewel on the Volga, is an important commercial center with a population of 600,000. 175 miles northeast of Moscow, it was founded by Yaroslav the Wise in the 11th century and sacked by Tatar (Mongol) hordes in 1238.
commuter hydrofoil at Yaroslavl gas station
one of the Yaroslavl bridges crossing the Volga
Dominating the town's main square is the Church of Elijah the Prophet, said to be built over the spot where Prince Yaroslav, the Russian Davy Crockett, wrestled the bear.
The oldest city on the Volga, Yaroslavl will celebrate its millennium in 2010. On the city's coat of arms a bear stands on his hind legs and holds a gold pole-ax representing the endurance of the Yaroslavl spirit.
On Bogoyavlenskaya Ploshchad is the oldest surviving structure in Yaroslavl, the Transfiguration of Our Savior Monastery, founded at the end of the 12th century.
The city hall is across the square from the monastery and leads to the central bazaar.
Built in the early 19th century, the Central Bazaar is still a busy shopping district.
The busses take us to yet another cathedral.
The spit of land, strelka, at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers, is now a park.
Who are these people? And what are they doing? What do you think?
Russians really really like fountains in their parks.
Near the park was, you guessed it, a medieval church.
On the church grounds, this self-taught bell player (note collection box) put on quite a show.
This was a model of the church.
The city is building an arts district with theaters and art museums. This distant cousin of Fred Astaire and Brad Pitt was a famous 19th century opera singer.
On Saturday, May 31, we were in Uglich. In 1584 upon Ivan the Terrible's death, his 2-yr old son Dmitry was banished here. Found dead in the palace courtyard with his throat cut, a commission concluded that the tragedy was an accident as boys like to play with knives. Rumors persist that Boris Godunov did it. The Church of St Dmitry on the Blood was built in 1692.
Our weather luck is still wonderful.
Traditional welcome of bread and honey.
Entering the church grounds, the girls are singing their hearts out.
Of all things to display!
The two-story wooden Voronin House built in the 17th century has an original tile stove. The Kalashnikov family (the rifle folks) lived here in the 19th century.
Actually these guys were awesome.
Another popular tourist stop.
Leaving Uglich, we were on the way to our last stop, Moscow.
All the river cruise ships are very clean and well maintained. The crews are kept busy repainting the sides where paint scrapes off from bumping the locks. The narrowest locks are 54 feet wide and the ships are 50 feet in width.
When our side of the lock fills, the gate rotates to horizontal. The keel depth of the ships are about 10 meters.
Sunday, June 1, approaching Moscow. Apartment houses are springing up all over these far north suburbs.
An abandoned Soviet-era navy cruiser.
The north docks cruise ship docking area has 17 slips. Most have two ships tied alongside.
Across from the cruise ship docks, these Soviet-era relics, a diesel boat and amphibious plane are on exhibit.
Driving along the Moscow River.
Novodevichy Convent was built in 1524 by Vasily III.
In 1598, Boris Godunov was crowned czar in the five-domed Smolensk Cathedral.
To the left is Moscow State University. Center is a ski jump. Don't ask.
A stadium built for the 1980 Olympics.
A concert near Moscow State University.
Follow that Porsche!
Our first view of the Kremlin.
Circling around the Kremlin. The red building in center is a History Museum. This is one of the public entrances.
St Basil's Cathedral
Red Square. Lenin's Tomb is right center. The area was closed in preparation for a concert honoring International Childrens' Day.
At the opposite end of Red Square from St Basil's is the Historical Museum built for Alexander II 1878-1883 on the site where Moscow University was founded in 1755.
Inside GUM Department Store, now just another mall.
Lenin's Tomb
outside shot of GUM from St Basil's
A wedding party outside St Basil's
On Monday, June 2, our tour of the Kremlin started here.
The Moscow Kremlin encloses an area of 70 acres. Built between the Moskva and Neglinnaya Rivers starting in 1147, destroyed by the Mongols in 1382, rebuilt a number of times, finally by Lenin. The walls are a half mile long, up to 62 feet high, 21 feet thick, with 20 towers and gates. Over ten churches, palaces and parks are inside the walls.
The Palace of Congresses was built by Khrushchev.
The 40-ton Emperor Cannon is the world's largest cannon still in existence. Designed in 1586 to protect the Savior's Gate on Red Square, it was never fired, probably bacause each cannon ball weighed one ton.
The largest bell in the world, the Emperor Bell is 20 feet high and weighs 210 tons. Designed in 1733 for the empress Anna Ivanova, it took two years to cast. It has never been rung.
To the right, built in 1479, the Assumption Cathedral was formerly the coronation church of the czars. Guarding the czar's doors are frescoes of the archangels Michael and Gabriel.
The gilded nine-domed Annunciation Cathedral was built in 1482 by Ivan the Great as the private church of the royal family.
One of the Kremlin Towers overlooking the Moskva River.
Behind the Emperor Bell stands the three-tiered Bell Tower of Ivan the Great. Built between 1505 and 1508, the tower contains 21 bells, the largest is the Uspensky (Assumption Bell) weighing 70 tons. It traditionally rang three times to announce the death of a czar.
Across from the Emperor Cannon in the southeastern corner of the Kremlin lie the Tainitsky (Secret) Gardens. Winter fairs are held here for children during New Year celebrations.
Leaving the heart of the Evil Empire
The main branch of the Moscow Public Library fronted by a statue of Fyodor Dostoesky.
The Moscow Metro (subway) stations are a bit fancier than most.
The trains are on either side of this platform. The Moscow Metro has ten lines, nine radiating from the center (Red Square) and one circling and interconnecting all.
Different stations have different themes - regions of the country, events, people, etc.
The sign says 'Restaurant' and is near an entrance to Red Square.
It's about 10 o'clock at night and we're on the way to Red Square.
This statue of Marshal Gregory Zhukov, a WWII hero, is in front of the History Museum on Red Square.
The GUM Department Store is lit up at night.
Dazed tourist in front of Lenin's Tomb
The sign spells out 'GUM' and the 'U' is pronounced like 'oo' in 'food'
This WWII victory park's fountains are blood-red.
Barely seen center left is a WWII victory arch.
Monday, June 2, saying good-bye to our home for the past 2 weeks, the Motorship Ivan Bunin
The smoking section in the departure lounge at Sheremetyevo Airport
Main terminal, Sheremetyevo Airport, from our departing FinnAir MD11 flight to Helsinki. da sveedahn'ya
