Vladimir & Suzdal, Russia

My tour group before we boarded our overnight train to Vladimir.

Colin, Me, Dave, Kelly, Olivia, Paul & Angela

Our guide Olga tried to teach us a Russian card game called Russian Fool.  None of us were able to catch on - it was very confusing.  I came in third and I have no idea how I accomplished that. 

My seat on the train.  We were on the train from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The entire train car was open. 

Here is my bed for the night - actually only until 3 a.m.

Angela is showing off our dinner for the night - bread, wheel of salami & Gouda. 

We went to Suzdal, an adorable little village.  We toured the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery, which is not an active monastery.

The guy in this picture "rings" the bells.  

These are fresco paintings.

At some point in the cathedral's history it was used as a prison.  These are bullet holes from that time period.

Beautiful scenic photo.

This lady was selling pickles out of the baby stroller.

This man was playing the accordion.

The Kremlin in Suzdal.  A Kremlin is a cathedral.

We went to a Russian Banya (Sauna).  It was VERY hot and we could only stay in for a short while.

This was the cooling off tub.

Steamy sauna.

When you are in the sauna you wipe the wet Birch leaves on your skin.

Statue in Vladimir.

Scenic view in Vladimir.

This was a group of Kindergarten students who had just graduated.

This is my hotel in Vladimir.

This is my building.

These ducks live on the property.

Heading off to dinner.

Me, Olivia, Paul, Angela & Colin

St. Petersburg, Russia

In St. Petersburg they have phenomena called the White Nights.  For several weeks it never really gets dark.  I took this photo at 12:30 a.m.

This is a typical Communist Building.

Across the street from my hotel there was a park.  Here is a sign explaining the park.  Feel free to read it...it is in Russian. 

Some local fishermen.

The Russian's love statues.  Here are some statues that were in the park across from my hotel.

This was my favorite statue.  Some bird really did a number on this poor guy.

The flowers were beautiful and I could not resist taking a photo of them.

This is a lighthouse located on Vasilyevsky Island.

The Kazan Cathedral.  It was modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  

This ship is called the Aurora.

This is the Peterhof Gardens.  It was the summer residence of the royal family built in the 18th century.  It was almost completely destroyed by the Nazi during WWII but then it was restored.

This fountain is gilded in gold.

This is the pyramid fountain.

Me at the Gulf of Finland.

According to legend if you rub the foot of this statue it is good luck.

This is a Russian squirrel.  They are not grey like ours back home - these are red.

Leading out to the Gulf of Finland.

St. Peter & Paul Fortress.  St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great.  The fortress is the birth place of the city.

Gilded in gold.

Tombs of the Romanov's.

Tsar Nicholas II and his family are buried here.  They were murdered by the secret police.  There were rumors that their daughter Anastasia might have survived, however, this has been proven to be incorrect.

St. Isaac Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral.  
More items gilded in gold.  


Mosaic tile.

The Hermitage across the River Neva.  This museum contains works of art from all over the world.

Gilded pillars.

Mosaic tile.

Peacock Clock.
Jade Urn
The Crouching Boy by Michelangelo
Madonna & Child by Leonardo Da Vinci
Renoir
Lady in the Garden by Claude Monet
The Church on Spilled Blood.  This was my favorite building in Russia!!




The inside was floor to ceiling mosaic tile.