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Just about to leave Russia. Had a great time, especially the Ballet which was super! The building was fairly old and tired but the dancing was the best. At interval we had a vodka and caviar. I can see why the Russians like their vodka so much - it makes the stars come out even during white nights!
St. Petersburg is a bit of a disappointment as it verges on being a third world country. There are a few really impressive buildings, but everywhere the past Communist period is evident both in the buildings and also the people. The legacy of the past is evident in the tired faces and sour attitudes. Like much of Africa it has a "you owe me" feeling. Bureaucracy rules supreme.
We have just retured from a trip to Petershof which is the Russian equivalent of Versailles, and was very impressive. We had blue skies, a millpond sea and 22 degrees temperature. The picture shows the beauty of the place, together with all the fountains.
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Peter Haslam Wow sounds very exotic.. did you see any statues of the former soviet dictators? And how did the imigration go, I can just imagine Franzikles stressing, he he, and it probably was a piece of cake in the end..
Bash did you know that beer has overtaken vodka as the most drunk drink in Russia. I suppose you only need vodka in winter but the weather looks fabulous there !
Dad No, I can't remember any statues of Russian dictators. There were a few statues of war heroes from the 900 day seige of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) during the second world war. This must have been an awful time as it is often mentioned. Apparently many of the children were removed from the city, and when the siege was over they returned to find many of the parents were dead. A special orphanage was established in Pushkin which is sometimes referred to as"the village of the children".