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What an exciting trip we had to Russia! As soon as we arrived, we took an evening walk around the city center of St Petersburg and found the church on Spilled Blood. We walked along Nevsky Prospekt and past The Hermitage before heading back to our hotel. We spent 2 full days looking at art at The Hermitage. It was especially enjoyable, because my son is an art major in college and knows so much about art to share with me. Of course, I loved the Renoirs, Monets and the whole Matisse room. My son loved the sculptures best and seemed to know all the mythology that influenced the sculptures. We found so much of the world-famous art there to be influenced by mythology or religion. Yes, there are 2 paintings by Leonardo da Vinci there, which all the tour groups crowded around.

Besides all that fabulous art, we got to go watch the ballet at the Mariinskly Theater on two separate evenings. It was magnificent! Awesome! The first performance we saw was Giselle, from our belle-etage box seats. The second performance was La Sylphides, and we sat on the floor in the 4th row then.

We also walked past other tourist sites, like the Peter and Paul Cathedral and St. Isaac’s cathedral. So many gilded decorations! By the time our trip was over, my feet were blistered, but my face was set with a smile! St Petersburg is a beautiful city well worth visiting if you love art or ballet!

We did find 5 geocaches in the park.

won 3rd place this year