Russia Poland August 5, 1998, Wednesday

We docked in St. Petersburg and after breakfast went on a city tour. The tour wasn’t much of a success because it was raining and the bus windows were foggy. The guide was having trouble with her PA system, so we had trouble hearing her.

However, after the city tour we went to the Pushkin Palace, the palace of Catherine the Great. It was an awe-inspiring building of many rooms. The Germans occupied it during the war years and left it in shambles. The left bombs in the building when they left, but these were found and defused. Many of the rooms have been restored to their original elegance and splendor. The main hallway glittered with gold leaf and mirrors. It was large enough to play football in it. The ceilings had elaborate murals and there were many priceless paintings on the walls. One room had the entire walls covered with paintings set in thin gold frames. All the floors were parquet with different colored wood fitted together in intrinsic designs. It must have taken craftsmen much labor to fit the many pieces together.

We were taken to a theater where Russian dancing was done. The performance by two dozen young dancers—half men, half women—was excellent with much vigor and grace. During the intermission champagne and caviar on small squares of bread was served. Back on the boat in the evening we danced.