We had breakfast in bed as we had to get ready by 8.45am to join our tour group.
Our receiver and headphones for the tour.
As I mentioned a few posts back, I love my Russian tour guide. It's so difficult to make out whether she's in a middle of telling a joke or when she's serious as her voice and facial expression is always set in serious mode.
First stop: Hermitage Museum
If we got lost, we would have to find this green vase and gather there.
Groupie
This museum is the largest art museum in Russia and consists of 4 buildings - the Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage and New Hermitage. It holds about 3 million art pieces.
The boy on a dolphin. I initially thought it was some mutated platypus crossed with fish tail.
Is it a young boy or a girl?
Portraits of past generals.
The peacock clock.
St George Hall (aka The Large Throne Room) and the Pavilion Hall.
Impressive mosaic in the Pavilion Hall.
We're risking our lives standing below this massive vase just for this photo.
Russian lunch:
Best campaign that I've tasted and best vodka too. I was surprise on how smooth the vodka was considering that it's 70% alcohol.
Russian water. Still taste like water to me. Endorsed by Queen Elizabeth.
I enjoyed the Russian meal, but the chicken didn't taste anything exceptionally different.
We were entertained by Russian song and dance while we dined away.
The Senate building at Dekabristov Square.
Opposite the Senate Building is St. Isaac's Cathedral. It was originally Russia's main and largest Cathedral.
Groupie.
Battleship Aurora anchored on the Neva river.
Peter and Paul Fortress
This fortress was built in 1703 to protect the area from Swedish invasion.
It is also the first site chosen by Peter the Great to build his new city.
Inside Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Impressive gold plated decorations. However, the green gave off a creepy feeling. Here lies the tombs of the Russian tsars.
We were entertained by this choir group which sang beautifully after the tour of the cathedral.
Finally, the highlight of the tour - Church of the Resurrection (aka Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood). This church was build on the spot where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated.
Most colourful church that I've seen in real life.
Back to the ship:
Dinner, as usual, is extremely delicious. I had lamb shanks for mains that night and I can still remember how tender and tasteful the meat was.
Entertainment for that night was Rhythm and Rhyme and it was a mixture of all the famous Broadway theaters. Best show of the cruise!
From Chicago to Mamma Mia, I was totally engrossed in the performance.
What did we do close to 12 midnight?
We had late night buffet at the Poolside! With so many cute little fruit animals and ice carvings, our appetite was reignited.
At least we were quite healthy until the desserts came along.
Such beautiful mixture of blue and orange.
Guessed what we did to burn the extra calories?
We played outdoors in the cold.
Next up: Cruising and back to Stockholm.
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