St Petersburg--first day

Bob, Peggy, Ellen and Jan on a bridge over the River Neva.

We started our St. Petersburg tour with an orientation in the center of the city. It quickly becomes apparent why St. Petersburg is sometimes called the "Venice of the North." It is a beautiful city and we are fortunate to have a wonderful guide and teacher. We saw the River Neva and its two tributaries and some of the 500 bridges that cross them! We spent the afternoon at the Hermitage. Its enormity is hard to describe. We walked and walked and walked and barely scratched the surface of the exhibited collection. One can only imagine how much is stored out of sight. We were impressed by how accessible the works of art are--practically nose to nose with da Vinci and Matisse, Goya, El Greco, Rodin and so many more.






Ludmila, Bob, Ellen and Jan



Our guide, Ludmila, is extraordinary. The range and depth of her knowledge of history, art, language, culture, politics and so much more, enriches our experience here. She walked our legs off today and promises more of the same for Wednesday! We are so lucky.