Russian Icon Tour, Part 10 St. Petersburg

Tourist's Bedside Table scene:

No bus today. We walked everywhere!

First to the Russian Museum to see four rooms full of fabulous icons. 

Some folks took a tour of the non-icon portion of the museum. We used our free time to walk over to the Kazan Cathedral  and venerate the Lady of Kazan icon. 

Afterwards, we strolled around town a bit,

saw a lady feeding pigeons, got hungry,

and went to lunch. 

After lunch we took a boat ride around "St. Pete" with narration by Olga. 

With our final hours, some went to an excellent exhibit of impressionist art, while others rested or shopped. We were on our own for dinner. 

My feet ache! 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 9 St. Petersburg

I'm a bit confused about today's exact sequence of events, because we have deviated from our plan 3-4 times. But my pictures are in order, so I'll post them and enter the names later. 

Leaving in the morning, after breakfast. 

(There was an optional walk to Kazan Cathedral earlier, but I didn't make it.)

Off we went in our coach to see Baroque architecture. This church was designed by a Frenchman. The pillars of the porches are solid granite and were erected before the building inside. 

Dazed tourist in St. Isaac's Church. Me. 

We took a break for lunch and I convinced a few people to try Jamie Oliver's Restaurant. It was great. 

A wonderful fish sampler platter with Rose for about $15. 

Another cathedral. Everything is done in mosaic tile. 

This time it's the Church of the Resurrection aka (Spilled Blood)

Next, we went over to an island in the river and walked through the Peter Paul Fortress and burial chapel of the Romanovs. 

And now back home to rest before we head to the theatre for a tourist-oriented "Russian Cultural Show". 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 8 St. Petersburg

We climbed wearily off our overnight train at 8:30 this morning, and were greeted by smiling Olga, our local St. Petersburg guide. 

Due to some confusion over timing of tickets, we headed for breakfast, yawning, then straight on to the Hermitage Museum. 

With 4 million exhibit items and 400+ rooms, this must be the largest, busiest, and most gilded museum in the universe. 

Whether display room, staircase or chapel, there was gold everywhere!

Whew! 

( Note to self, if I ever get this rich, don't flaunt it so. )

Leaving this grandeur behind, we went for a simple luncheon at Restaurant 1913. 

Afterwards we checked into our hotel, marveled at the tiny rooms (what!) and took showers and naps. A few of us wandered about on our own, finding books, jewelry and icons for sale. 

Roaring Ferraris outside on the street successfully kept us from visualizing the small port founded by Peter the Great in 1703. 

After naps, laundry and a dinner in the hotel, most of us are heading for our beds. Others took a stroll down the busy and unhappily "aromatic" streets. 

This is Not a Quiet Neighborhood; the in-room notice book advises earplugs!

Russian Icon Tour, Part 7 Vladimir

We are in "Vlad-ee-mir" today. Perhaps as a result of our monastic visits, some of us are now adopting a simpler diet. 

We hung around until 9:40 before boarding the bus and starting our Vladimir history lesson with Alexandria. 

We visited two historical sites. Outside site #1:

And inside

Outside #2, the Assumption Cathedral:

Inside the gallery next door, many of us bought a booklet called Rubleyov in Vladimir, which discusses his remaining works - such as this original which was mesmerizing!

(Photo of the image in our booklets)

Next, we were transported to a Russian Wood Village for a great lunch of salad, fish soup, potatoes, chicken Kiev and jam-filled bread. 

A real log cabin!

We got onto the bus again and took off for Moscow.  But first we had dinner in a grotto ...

Then drinks in the hotel bar. 

And finally, we catch a midnight train to St. Petersburg. What a day!

 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 6 Suzdal

We woke at 3:30 am when some vodka-filled wedding guests began cavorting down the lane. I looked through the window screen again at 5 am when a flock of loud-mouthed birds decided to have an early morning conversation. 

Unable to sleep in, and wanting to beat the predicted rainfall, I took a stroll around the hotel. 

Across a meandering stream, I saw a stereotypical fisherman, hard at work. 

Today we picked up another guide, and took in the picturesque villages of Suzdal and Vladimir. After strolling through a historic wood village museum, we drove to this beautiful convent. 

Where we saw their counting house, chapel and gardens. 

The bus took us over to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, where we saw some ancient Golden Gates

and marveled at the cobalt blue interior. 

We did some shopping, then had a nice lunch which ended with a surprise birthday cake for one of our travelers. Me. Thanks!

Looks beautiful, doesn't it?

A few minutes later, wham, the storm hit. And we hadn't even finished setting up our tents for the night! (Just kidding)

We took another hike to another chapel, far across a grassy plain. 

At last the day's activities wound down. We reached our new hotel in Vladimir, and headed for the showers.