Got the best train we have had, long sleeper beds, already made for us. Everyone was asleep and snoring within minutes. We arrived early in the morning to a negative temperature and a icy sea breeze. The honcho we have here is just completing her masters in geology, specializing in crystallography. She is going to the US to complete another masters. Unfortunately her skills in geology are not equal as a honcho. Really lacking energy and not sure about restaurants or bars, not really helping book things.
We walked the streets and canals on our way to the hermitage. It's amazing. It's one of the best art galleries in the world and is located in a palace in the centre of St Petersburg. It's so hard to workout where the palace ends and the art begins. Photos from the camera soon.
St Petersburg was planned to be the Venice of the north, they have made something that has to be seen.
When we left the tour, The good doctor and I changed hostels to one that overlooked the canals, in an even nicer place with free phone calls. Gran got a surprise one morning, I got through to nana, after a few calls they worked out who I was and that I wasn't selling anything.
I could write more but you have to see it for yourself!!! It's so much fun and I can't do it justice.
A few big nights, one out of control that ended interestingly. Alex was very lucky to keep his passport after handing it around and showing it off at the bar, then he may have broken his wrist later in the night. I had a misunderstanding with a Russian guy when looking for my jacket (I did the right thing the guy was drunk and not asking questions). Then got left behind and found my way home later. Luke couldn't find his passport till later in the day.
The other night was a Georgian dinner and a karaoke bar... It got Ross and tony going crazy and was a good last night, much tamer.
Alex overslept and paid a cab driver extra to get to the airport.... The guy may have been a rally driver, they are all maniacs!!