Elbrus Expedition Dispatch
June 25, 2017 – Great Day on the Streets of Saint Petersburg
Lots going on here at 60 degrees north summer solstice week. It is White Nights, of course. The time of the Midnight Sun, when the city does not sleep.
There are also teams from around the world in town for the Russian Confederation Soccer games. A precursor to next year’s World Cup, which will be held here. The Cameroon, Iran and Portugal teams and many of their fans are staying at our hotel.
Our order of business today was to use our main thoroughfare, perhaps the most interesting street to walk in the world: Nevsky Prospect to explore a few of this city's historical and art treasures.
Church on Spilled Blood. Kazan Cathedral. Peter and Paul Fortress.
Then we stopped for lunch! at four pm we entered the Hermitage with Olga, our city tour guide for Saint Petersburg.
After a day of walking we boarded a private boat for a tour of Saint Petersburg's waterways. The "Venice of the North" is indeed an apt name for this town.
For starters here are a few photos of the team’s first full day. It ended as we got settled into our berths on The Grand Express, the "Midnight Train to Moscow which pulled out at 11:43 pm
Crossing Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg
Woodie and Mathes in St Petersburg
Paul enjoying cocktail time on the Nevsky Prospect
The team on the private boat for their St Petersburg’s waterways tour.
Everyone on the “Venice of the North” waterways
Paul Ryan
Mark Isom
Mathes Vaughan
Woodie Vaughan taking it all in on the Neva River
Mark and Woodie unwinding in St Petersburg
St Petersburg rainbow over the city