Huw's Bit

Last day in StP. Spent morning/lunch running around seeing the remaining sites.

Very moving to see Romanov family resting place in St Peter and Paul's Cathedral having seen where their 'graves' were found in Yekaterinburg. Part of complex is the prison where the Tsar and later the Revolution where political prisoners were held - doesn't sound like rehabilitaion was part of the brief! Lots executed, and very quickly after being arrested.

National holiday today (on a Sunday!): Navy Day. Lots of Rssians on the pop early including grown men quite happy to dress up in sailor uniforms - very odd.

Dosvedanya Russia - I will be back!

Christine's bit

Breakfast excellent at this hotel. Really enjoying the pastries here and have been eating hot porridge in every Russian hotel we'vey stayed in. Some really salty others not. Walked to the Church on Spilled Blood am, and no problems as Sunday, and most tourists not up and going yet. Pretty amazing church, loved the mosaics on the walls. Down to the river and over the bridge to the Peter and Paul Fortress built by Peter the Great in 1703 and from 1718 to 1912 was used as a political prison. Went into the prison and saw the cells where the prisoners were held and many eventually executed. All prisoners here were in solitary confinement, very spartan conditions, no communication allowed between prisoners but they used a sound code of language through foot tapping and tapping on the window bars. Completed the story of the Romanovs, as here on the island in the Peter and Paul Cathedral are the burial places of all except 2 of the children (the church says that their whereabouts are unknown). Our guide in Ekaterinburg assured us their remains have been identified and are stored in a Museum somewhere. As we walked back from the island over the river we noticed masses of people around, many in sailor dress. It seemed to be a festive day on the river bank, near the battleships, with groups of older men in sailor attire singing, drinking. younger guys already well 'under the influence' proudly waving flags, and lots of Russians with cameras - we found out later that it was Navy Day and that there would be a procession of ships up the river and later tonight at 11.30pm there will be a fireworks display. As we have an early pickup (4 am ), don't think we will be watching the fireworks!