St. Pete as seen by boat. We took a little cruise around it. You can actually see the port of Helsinki in the distance. It is that close. Made me think of all those John Le Carre novels what with their cold war nostalgia for cities on the frontline between the Soviets and the West.
Our trusty guide, Olga. School teacher and follower of the party line for the most part. Probably an unfair comment, but she did spout the Putin line in various lectures. We all can attest to the power of the media to shape opinion. Witness the run up to war in this country recently. She was a nice lady though and friendly guide.
Ok, it got to be a bit much, but this was about 9pm at night ... and we were jetlagged on our 1st few days. Remember we arrived on the 21st and it was the season of the White Nights. Daylight until 2am or so, and then bright again in a few hours.
The Venice of the North. If they could only solve their traffic problems by using these canals for public transportation, it would be great. Traffic is a "fookin diseaster", as they say in Dublin.
Beautiful church eh?
Our trusty guide, Olga. School teacher and follower of the party line for the most part. Probably an unfair comment, but she did spout the Putin line in various lectures. We all can attest to the power of the media to shape opinion. Witness the run up to war in this country recently. She was a nice lady though and friendly guide.
Ok, it got to be a bit much, but this was about 9pm at night ... and we were jetlagged on our 1st few days. Remember we arrived on the 21st and it was the season of the White Nights. Daylight until 2am or so, and then bright again in a few hours.
The Venice of the North. If they could only solve their traffic problems by using these canals for public transportation, it would be great. Traffic is a "fookin diseaster", as they say in Dublin.
Beautiful church eh?
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