20180725 St. P. Day Tour 2 (10 photos)

Arriving at the canal boats, we begin to appreciate our guide Nellie as the boat captains show preference for her over other tour groups approaching the docks. After boarding the top deck, we glide under a bridge and get a closer view of sunbathers on the bank making good use of a summer day. Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral soon dominates the fortress view. Crossing the Neva River, our boat joins others and shows us buildings seen yesterday from the bus.

20189725 St. P. Day Tour (8 photos)

Today we leave the ship about 8am for an all-day excursion on the Grand Canals, the Peter and Paul Fortress, lunch, and parts of the Hermitage Museum. Early morning light guides us and reveals the fortress in the distance.

20180724 St. P. Theatre and Return (9 photos)

The Hermitage Theatre is an 18th century rebuild by Catherine the Great inside Peter 1's Winter Palace on the bank of the Neva River. Small and cozy, it proudly claims every seat a good seat.

Returning to the ship, we see lively bridge activity featuring local residents dancing to dj music, a nightly occurrence during summer months.

Soon the older Petrovsky soccer stadium and sports complex appears across the river, its lights and jumbo screen rising above the arena. It looks outdated especially when compared to the new St. Petersburg Stadium. This structure boasts a spaceship design with color-changing light beams. It opened in 2017 as part of Russia's $10 billion projects for the 2018 World Cup. Features include a retractable roof, sliding pitch, and inside temperature regulated to 59F year round.

Lastly, the Viking Sun, our home away from home, lights up for the night.

20180724 St. P. Ballet (9 photos)

Tonight we have chosen to attend the ballet Swan Lake. I know the story well and have seen it previously but never in Russia performed by Russians. Photos are forbidden so most of us sneak a few before the performance begins and again at the end. During intermission, complimentary glasses of champagne add to the experience after we present the required Viking red ticket.

20180724 St. P. Tour 6 (7 photos)

The red and White House is another gift of a palace built to reward a loyal aristocrat. As this morning tour ends, the bridge over the Neva River driving away from this section gives a view back through the bus window. Nearing the docks, tall apartment buildings constructed on soil reclaimed from the river stand to house citizens unable to afford better accommodations. When we are almost at the ship, an imposing tower punctuates the landscape. Lakhta Center, new headquarters for the Russian oil company Gazprom (majority owned by government), has 87 stories and is the tallest building in Russia and Europe.

20180724 St. P. Tour 5 (7 photos)

The palaces, squares, and monuments go on and on and on in this part of the city, abundance of old wealth and extravagance while common people struggled to survive.

20180724 St. P. Tour 4 (8 photos)

Russia recently hosted World Cup Soccer, and proud reminders appear on buildings and in souvenir stores. Surprising book store, more city scenes, etc.