Russia
2006 Journey Day Nineteen
St. Petersburg
, Russia
[
01 August, 2006
] The day was a late start since hotel drapes were highly effective at keeping
the outside light out. So, after lunch (Cold dill soup and tomato salad) at the hotel, it was time to
purchase train tickets for upcoming Helsinki trip.
To purchase train tickets, it is not a simple point and click on a website. One could purchase directly
at the train station; however, cash and Russian language would be required. So, we checked with the
American Express Travel office and they referred us to another company down the street and that
company referred us to another company that handles international tickets. The entire process did
take the best part of the afternoon - after additional charge for insurance and use of a credit card.
(Connection for American Express verification was down) The representative Olge was very helpful
and thankfully was the sole person in the office to speak English.
The remainder of the day and evening was walking St. Petersburg - to view the colorful opera house,
blue and white cathedrals, canal bridges, and yet another color striped, onion domed cathedral. The
city has significantly more potential than Moscow and no wonder it was the Capitol for over 200 years.
Scaffold is abundant in the city, so, change and restoration is gradually improving. Their high costs
and lack of mid range hotel rooms may stifle the tourist industry.
The city was known as the "Venice of the North" since Peter the Great fancied the idea of using
boats to provide transport around the new city. Water taxis and canal tours are very popular. A
great viewing point is the 100s of steps up to the large cupola of St. Issac - 360 degree picture
spot. Dinner was a popular crepe and coffee restaurant - Salmon and cheese crepes with a large
Hoscoe beer finished the day.
Lobby Return
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Last Updated on
August 13,
2006, CE