Well Christmas day was a big one. Santa came and left us a stocking full of gifts! There was fruit, even a banana, and some biscuits. Even here he didn't forget us. Once again we had a hearty breakfast then rugged up for the day. Our tour today was to the Museum to the Defense of Leningrad. This was such a moving place, our guide Olga was crying as she told us about the diary of Tanya Savicheva. The museum isn't very large, apparently Lenin had the original one...

Merry Christmas everyone. Kat and I hope you and yours all have a great Christmas day.

We didn't wake up quite so early today so we must be over the time difference thingy. As we were leaving the dining room, it started to snow, the forecast was for a warmer day with rain! I guess that the Russian weather bureau is as competent as ours. Today's main excursion was to the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great in the town of Pushkin. It was a thirty minute trip. This palace was almost destroyed during the war and has been mostly restored, it is an on...

Up and attem, Well after a full night's sleep we were ready to go, the only little hitch was that it was only 04.30hrs and even breakfast wouldn't be available until 07.30hrs, The room is great; it is very warm and cozy and the bed is huge and very comfortable, great for a full night sleep, however the full night goes from about 17.00hrs until 11.00hrs next day and yesterday was the longest night over here… So we watched some local telly and the English ve...

Well, we are in Russia AND IT IS COVERED IN SNOW! The airport is very clean and very old, solid Soviet construction, functional but soulless. We had no trouble at passport control, just a bored lady going through the motions and straight through customs without an official in sight. We were the only non-locals on the flight though, the flight attendant kept talking to us in Russian, I ask you, do we look Russian? White and blond (well grey)! Our guide is a nic...