Day - 2 St Petersburg
Yesterday our guide told us SPB gets 5 sunny days a year and yesterday we our timing was spot-on. Today is overcast with expected thunderstorms later in the day.
We were picked up again today about 8.30am. Our tour consisted of 7 passengers. Just brilliant when we are involved with small group tours. Our guide again was so helpful and considerate to some who who less mobile. Great for Paul. He was exhausted last night but fairly revived to tackle today. Our walk through the Hermitage took over 2 half hours, today our guide said we would have about 2 hours in the Petertof Gardens with lots of rest stops and very few steps. She was right.
First stop was the dark red lighthouses which stand on the original wharf of SPB. Across the river we coud see the Hermitage and on the over side was the Flying Dutchman. I will need to google this ship as I haven't associated it with Russia.
Next a stop at a 1904 war ship which battled Japan during the Japanese Russian conflict that Russia had lost. It is now it is fully restored and a training ship for the Russian Navy.
Onto Peterhof Palace to tour the many fountains in the gardens. We arrived about 10.50am in time to see the dry fountains gush with water at 11am.
It was sooooo crowded with heaps of tour groups clustering around their guides and blocking the way. 4 people waited near the checkered cascade fountain whilst Paul, Marilyn and myself walked further afar to see more fountains. After 30 minutes we could hear the sound of thunder and knew it was time to return to the group and head back to the bus. Well we nearly make it before the heavens opened up and drenched the group. Fortunately Paul and I packed our umbrellas in our backpacks but the others decided not to even collect the umbrellas supplied by the bus before heading out.
Back to the city and lunch in a different restaurant. This time a cabbage soup, chicken with mushroom sauce and a cream puff. All served with one...only one glass of wine, beer or soft drink.
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