Long bus ride tort to St. Petersburg. Hotel is downtown and first impression is a busy crowded city. Took a boat ride around the city seeing most of the palaces and the hermitage. After dinner of chicken Kiev, of course, we took a subway ride to various beautiful stations. The subway was very crowded, rode the fastest, longest escalator I have been on. Trains were longer and faster than dc metro. And the ran frequently and didn't break down!