Saturday May 23rd Saint Petersburg

One day done, one to go. We wake up to a lovely sunny and warm morning. However we learn that on the same cruise last year the temperature was 35C – far too hot! Our 18C is just right.

Not up so early as yesterday and we have a lie in until 6 30am. IG has booked a tour to the Fabergé Museum where she sees eight original Fabergé eggs owned by a Russian Billionaire. She was not allowed to take photos but here is one of Mr Fabergé's workshop.

 

 

IB spent a lazy morning on the ship and had a swim in the pool with the roof open. The roof was probably opened as they were cleaning the window surrounds with some evil chemical, rather than due to the high temperature. It was however very pleasant. This photo could not be taken last year as they have now added an extra deck of cabins in front of the pool so you can walk on top of those to get this view.

 

 

Quick bit to eat, better than no food yesterday, and off on our afternoon tour to the Hermitage Museum, which is in the Tsar's Winter Palace. We are in coach 14 which was guided by two rather eccentric older lady guides. Their real names were Elena and Galena but Hinge and Bracket would have been more appropriate. They were so disorganised: handing out and testing the radio receivers was a brilliant double act: we were told to test them and put our hands up if we could not hear, and they were serious: it was not a joke but we all were in stitches. Then the Tours Manager said we had too many and would four go to another coach: only two agreed!

So eventually off to the Hermitage. The City is on many rivers and canals and here is a view of the main River, the Neva.

 

 

The Hermitage from Palace Square

 

 

We enter the Hermitage up the grand staircase

 

 

and on through the impressive Ballroom

The Hermitage houses a extensive collection of works of art, but also the former Royal Apartments which IG really wanted to see. The tour went round the art works but we had the option to go off on our own which Elena reluctantly agreed to us doing. So we saw amongst others the newly restored Chapel

We got back to our agreed meeting place well on time but we had to wait for our guide and the rest of the party. Then we had another comedy act getting to meet up with the other half of the group and find our coach. We got back to the ship 30 seconds before the departure time for Tallinn!

Nice dinner and a Headliners show which was nothing special and an early night. As we sailed into the Gulf of Finland we pass through a flood defence lock which we think was build to prevent Saint Petersburg from flooding.

This blog has been vetted and edited by IG so any mistooks are down to her!