July 20, 2008- St. Petersburg Day 2

St Petersburg day 2 started with overcast clouds and drizzle on the ship. We went to our bus early and found that we were the last to get on board. Our seats are on the back of the bus.

First we drive back to the museum area, near the water. Photo stops at various monuments with pictures, in the rain. There are 2 Rostral light towers at the split of Vasilisky island on the Neva river. These towers have boats and nautical objects on the sides and a cauldron on the top that was filled with wood and set afire every night, to guide ships in the dark. A park near the Church of the Spilled Blood, has an eternal flame to honor all service men that have fallen in battle.

We then boarded a tourist boat and took a one hour ride to see the city from a different vantage. Two Russian miliary vessels are at anchor and are allowing citizens to board for tours. Some high speed 'foil' boats are loading with some tourists, but mostly workers on their daily comute. Watercraft here are very different from the ones we experienced last fall in Venice, Italy. The Russians make a fair attempt at duplicating the technology, but pale in comparison to the Italians.

We then boarded the bus, enroute to the Hermitage Museum. This is St. Peterberg's pride and joy. It is a huge structure, not unlike the Louvre with it's many corriders of pieces on display. Most museums around the world display copies of artists; the Hermitage houses the originals. We went through less than 10% in two hours. Our pictures cannot approach the grand scale of the museum. Interestingly, one hall is viewable, although off limits to all pictures. The art is still in litigation from WWII. During the war, the art was taken from Jewish families, and the owners have been fighting for their return for over 60 years. The second and third generations still want the art returned. The Russians identify the art as being from private collections, but will not return it.

Lunch is in a local hall. We eat with 10 other bus loads of tourists. A dance group plays local music and dance. The appetizer is 2 pancakes, one topped with sour cream and the other with red caviar - we taste, but do not like. The main course is a firm white fish, with little flavor other than the sauce. The beverage choices are Vodka and champagne.

Our last stop is the Peter and Paul Fortress. This facility was constructed in the 1700's to protect the water way. It was never used militarily. It was turned into a prison for political prisoners. The onsite cathedral, adorned in the ubiquitous gold leaf, is the burial place for the last Czars, including the last czar of Russia, Nicholas II. Since the family's assassination by the Bolsheviks (later called Communists), the remains of Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, the children Olga, Tatiana, and Anastasia, had been identified in the late 1990's and were interred here with a grand ceremony cannonizing the family for their loyal service to the church. Only a week before our arrival in St Petersburg, both Alexi and Maria's remains were finally identified. Our guide tells us that Russia will hold another big ceremony, in the future and entomb the final remains, laying to rest, the entire family.

We board the bus for the ride back to the ship. We sail at 1845, and pass a bone yard of the rusting, defunct Russian Navy. War ships are listing at their berths and beached on small islands. Two submarines are at a partially submerged dock. The Russians do not have the money or desire to care for the fleet. As we motored away, we saw 40-45 freighters loaded with cargo, anchored outside what I assume is the 12 mile bouy to international water. The ships are waiting for permission and a local pilot to enter Russian territory.