St Petersberg day 2 

Much easier to get through customs, and I had a lovely smiley lady, however, she wished me good luck as she passed back my passport... Hmmmm I had a WTF moment then!! 

All was good, our lovely guide was early to meet us and we departed the wharf area right on time.

First stop was to StNicholas Church, an imposing looking place, and another very opulent looking cathedral. So much gold... And such beautiful architecture. 

This was a "working church" many people were inside, tourists had a roped off area, and as such photos were forbidden... Just amazing how many pool still take a camera out.Interestingly none of the churches have pews, or pulpits, except one. We have done well so far, so many churches, and none have fallen in! 

Next up a stop at a typical crappy souvenir shop, we sat in the sun and enjoyed an ice cream ... I guess they are part of the deal. But REALLY??? They are so tacky, and overpriced. When we passed a market stall, it was a no go zone! 

A city tour followed and then onto Peter and Paul fortress, home of the still functioning mint for currency, medals etc.  there was another church to visit, it was once again spectacular. There were tombs with the bodies of Peter the Great and his mates, for clarification of this fact, please refer to Google! We are in information overload, and my poor long suffering hubby is about to cry if I take him to another church, cathedral, palace, or any place that does not serve alcohol!! 

Our brains have taken in so so much in the past two days... It's wonderful, exhausting and fabulous.

Excitement next, a canal cruise for lunch, Warren had a Russian vodka, smelt like stuff you would use to embalm a body...  He had a healthy glow for a good while, then he topped it off with a Russian Beer... Lunch was good, well, not as good as yesterday's, as we shared the table with a few more ....yes you get the drift whinge whinge whinge.. I get very embarrassed. More cabbage, fish and rice, ( oh excuse me I don't think that was sunrice) soup, and a apple bun cake thingo.

The boat had a toilet that I needed to use... Thank goodness there were no cameras, it was T I N Y.... I had my knees around my shoulders, had to sit on the dunny  to pull my daks down,  put one foot in the basin and hope I aimed right. Now that was an experience. I could write a book obituary my travels with dunnies...gawd.

The wine here was also very good.

Next up another church...

Can you hear him moaning... 

It was the famous Church of the Spilled Blood. Awesome mosaic work 70000 sq metres inside and out. The history was incredible, such a beautiful church during its lif it was once  home to a vegetable market, and most of the inside was ruined by weather, it's it now restored magnificently. 

After leaving the church, we walked with our guide (well some of us did) and passed lots of market stalls, we would have loved to have had a Squizzy .. But as good sheep do, we followed our guide, (well some of us did... Are you seeing the pattern here?)  Lo and behold, we had to stand and wait and wait and wait in the cold for 3 ignobloodyramusses to be found. HAPPY JAN! 

Then off to a "shopping stop" yep another crappy suck in the tourist shop. I was aware that it's what tours are about, but surely we could have had one decent shopping stop? 

Last stop on our tour was at a square ... Famous for ...google it!    Another photo opportunity, my camera is so full of churches, bridges, cathedrals, and I was sure Warren was going to self destruct! We didn't even get off,  preferring to wait for our ride home. 

Geeze it was good to get home.

Feet up, recharge and now at the Irish Pub for a bit of dinner, then bed.

Well that's the plan.

Tomorrow Helsinki Finland.

Ok, well before we post this we are at Gastsbys Champagne bar, having a roadie with Stan the music man, the sun is still up, so why choose bed over  fun in the Baltic Sea, where the sun still continues to shine, it's like living in a time warp. Day after day after day, thank goodness our days at Woolies were not this flipping long! 

It's amazing how a few bubbles recharge you..  Kind of like magic. 

Our friends behind the bar are now friends . ...

They know the magic medicine.

Still tomorrow Helsinki, hope we wake up.