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Title image - BAI takes you to: Mt.Elbrus
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Elbrus Expedition Dispatch

July 1, 2012 – St. Petersburg Holds Surprises Every Summer

July 1st was a cool, grey morning in St Petersburg. Most of us are weary from travel schedules. We have arrived from Guam, Brazil, Hawaii, the US Mainland and Canada. After breakfast we walked a short distance from our hotel to the Fontanka River, where we boarded a private boat for a one hour tour of St. Petersburg from the best vantage, the water. This truly is the “Venice of the north”; the canals are where you want to be; it as a great way to start our day.

St Petersburg holds surprises every summer. This year more that 150 buddy bears have appeared near the Admirality, not far from St Issac's Cathedral and the Bronze Horseman.

St Petersburg holds surprises every summer.

This year more that 150 buddy bears have appeared near the Admirality, not far from St Issac's Cathedral and the Bronze Horseman.

UNITED BUDDY BEARS - The art of tolerance

UNITED BUDDY BEARS - The art of tolerance

There is no more iconic image of summer time in St. Petersburg than the mint green walls of the Winter Palace, which houses much of the Hermitage Museum, as it is viewed from Palace Square.

There is no more iconic image of summer time in St. Petersburg than the mint green walls of the Winter Palace, which houses much of the Hermitage Museum, as it is viewed from Palace Square.

We were off at 10:00 AM – duffel bags with climbing gear were left back at the hotel, now it's time to be tourist.

We were off at 10:00 AM – duffel bags with climbing gear were left back at the hotel, now it's time to be tourist.

Waterways provide access to everything in the historic center of St. Petersburg.

Waterways provide access to everything in the historic center of St. Petersburg.

As always, Lina was ready with warm smile to describe her city.

As always, Lina was ready with warm smile to describe her city.

Our tour marathoner champions so far on this expedition have been Barbara and Linda; they did Peterhoff, the summer palace and St Isaac’s yesterday and they were fresh and ready to go again this morning.

Our tour marathoner champions so far on this expedition have been Barbara and Linda; they did Peterhoff, the summer palace and St Isaac’s yesterday and they were fresh and ready to go again this morning.

Hugo was on deck with his camera ready.

Hugo was on deck with his camera ready.

Jason grinning, here we are in St. Petersburg.

Jason grinning, here we are in St. Petersburg.

We passed the battleship Aurora.  It was from here that the “shot heard round the world” signaling the beginning of the Russian Revolution was fired on October 25, 1917.

We passed the battleship Aurora. It was from here that the “shot heard round the world” signaling the beginning of the Russian Revolution was fired on October 25, 1917.

The Aurora was sunk during the siege of Leningrad during the 1940’s so that it could not be destroyed by the Germans.  Today it sits proudly next to the Russian Naval Academy.

The Aurora was sunk during the siege of Leningrad during the 1940’s so that it could not be destroyed by the Germans. Today it sits proudly next to the Russian Naval Academy.

Mac enjoying the views

Mac enjoying the views

Lennie checking out St. Pete from the water.

Lennie checking out St. Pete from the water.

We passed the Winter Palace from the Neva River.

We passed the Winter Palace from the Neva River.

Hard to believe, that is all a museum.  The Winter Palace, Small and Large Hermitage, 6,000,000 items are catalogued in the Hermitage Museum, it would take years to view them all – Lina and our crew made a good 2 hour start this afternoon.

Hard to believe, that is all a museum. The Winter Palace, Small and Large Hermitage, 6,000,000 items are catalogued in the Hermitage Museum, it would take years to view them all – Lina and our crew made a good 2 hour start this afternoon.

At the Cathedral at Peter and Paul Fortress, we saw where Nicholas II and his family are at rest.  Their bodies were finally returned here in 1999.

At the Cathedral at Peter and Paul Fortress, we saw where Nicholas II and his family are at rest. Their bodies were finally returned here in 1999.

Later back on Nvesky Prospect we visited “Church on Spilled Blood” built on the site where Alexander II was assassinated.

Later back on Nvesky Prospect we visited “Church on Spilled Blood” built on the site where Alexander II was assassinated.

The Ceiling mosaic at Church on Spilled Blood

The Ceiling mosaic at Church on Spilled Blood

Across the street from the Church we found a good spot for Strognoff.

Across the street from the Church we found a good spot for Strognoff.