We awaked at about 7h30. You dont believe it but the sky was grey and it was raining.... not a few drips, but RAINING! We took firts a good breakfast in the hope it should be better after a bit time... But unfortunately.... It was raining harder. ??

At nine o'clock arrived Karina, our guide. She was prepared for the normal St Petersbourg weather, she told us that it's normal here, they have rain about 310 days a year.... ??????????

So, we started our program. Karina had some parapluis for us. We walked to the "The church of Savior on the Spilled Blood", a long name for a beautiful church who is build on the place were they killed Emperor Alexander II in March 1881. what a beautifull archtecture. You can see the photo on the "foto" page.

Than we took the bus to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The first structure in St Petersbourg, build to protect Peter the Great's northern city from the threat of Swedishattacks and now the emblem of the city and the resting place of the Russian Tsars.

In the middle of the fortress stands the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the place for all the emperors from Peter the Great till Alexander III. A Cathedral with a very unusual design for a Orthodox church. On the top is a golden angel who is holding a cross. Its the highest building from the city, 121 meters high.

Also we visit the prison in the fortress. 72 cels for politic prisoners, one of them was the brother of Stalin. He died in that prison while his brother was succeeding for there ideals.

Than is on teh site of the prison the Mint. Still the second factory in Rusland where they make the Roebel mints.

After a typical Russian lunch walked we to the stock exchange. Magnificent archtectural ensemble, buit after the turn of the 19th century on the Vasevsky Island. The builing has an ancient Greece archtecture style with two grandiose colums, build as lighthouse for theships of the Neva River.

On the day of culture and history for us was the next subject the St Isaaac Cathedral. We reach it by bus. This Cathedral was the front linien during the second World war. We know it as the battle of Leningrad. The church has still a lot af marks from the battle. The Cathedral is built by the French arcitect Montferrand. He was 40 years under construction and finished in 1858. all the colums are made of single pieces of red granite..... each colum weight about 80 tons. A beautiful Cathedral.

At 3 O'clock, yes, it was time fot the Hermitage. we were very happy with our Karina, she had the tickets already (waiting time 1 houre), we passed the row for the entrance and so we were directly in the museum. Ach, you must have so your network... Ha, ha...

We walked about three houres through the museum. And realy, its thruth, its very impressing. It is a very impressing art collection. We were visiting the firts floor with many rooms from different times. There are about 2,7 million pieces of art. When you want them see them all then you need 11 years .... Good luck. We were after three hours so tired that we needed a beer.... But they have an enourmous collection from par example Rembrand, 26 maste pieces, more than the Rembrand collection in Holland. There is also al lot of Frensch art, from Renoir, Cezanne, Manet etc. we were impressed!

In the meantime was it about 7o'clock, tired in our legs and head were we walking back to our hotel To write our experiences.

it's now later again... We were eating in a beautiful Russian "market" restaurant. You don't believe it may be, but we had also a red wine... From Greorgia! Nice, fine, a beatiful nose, a round taste, but...... a bit sugar. But, better than a simple limonade!

So, this was our first total day in Rusland. Tomorrow we are going to the Summer palace from Peter the Great, about 70 km from the city. Now we prepare our beds for the last night in Saint Petersbourg.