News from St. Petersburg.

Deutsch: Vincent van Gogh im Jahr 1866 im Alter von 13 Jahren. Vermutlich entstand das Foto nach Beendigung des Internataufenthalts in Zevenbergen, bevor er in die höhere Schule in Tilburg eintrat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

City of culture rivers, canals, the sea and beauty. Tourist traps are expensive (£4 for a cup of tea) but get to where the Russians eat and dine and it's £0.50 for a cupa. Mind you the tea is crap. and I found nowhere with a nice Darjeeling or Assam. DO NOT have a glass of Vodka (about the equivalent of 4 shots, for £1.30) in the morning, as the Russian sailors do - nor anytime - I felt ill for the rest of the day and thought that I was going to be sick. It took two hours of steady walking to get rid of the effects - no wonder Russia has one of the worst record for early death from the dreaded liquor. My remedy was the rest of the holiday back on the wagon.
 The Hermitage is beyond description, three floors and a basement filled with the works of the old masters - twenty of everything Cezanne's, Picasso's, Van Gogh's, Gaugan's etc, etc as well as some exiting Russian modern art.
 The people are friendly, articulate and extremely well educated and the place, like Moscow is buzzing. My guide Natalie was informed, educated and buoyant, although, naughty girl, she smoked the stick of death, Stop it Natalie! Fireworks, pop concerts and symphony orchestras, all for free in the main square. And, perhaps, one of the most amazing sites that I have ever seen about 500 Hells Angel's lights flashing and horns blaring doing fifty miles an hour around the city roads and being escorted, front and end by police cars with lights flashing and sirens screaming, joining in the fun.