Hello from St. Petersburg!!

We had a fabulous last day in Moscow. The ride on the overnight train was very exciting!

Our first day in St. Petersburg was the warmest yet - full of sunshine! Today we took a bus tour around the city and visited Peter and Paul fortress. This evening we had dinner at Nicholas's Palace and saw a very entertaining Russian Folk show with very talented dancers and singers!

Unfortunately, I've had a slight technological/electric mishap. The power cord for my computer blew up and I'm working off the battery. With only 53% left for the next two days, it seems, until I can get to an Apple store here in St. Pete, I have to make my blog entries short and sweet. I promise to update from the hundreds of photos I've taken as soon as I find a solution to this problem. The kids are having a blast!!!!!

Tomorrow we will go to the Hermitage Museum and visit Yusupov's Palace. In the evening, the group will go to the ballet to see "Giselle".

Our last day in Moscow has brought with it sun and clouds. Today we will finally take the Kremlin tour. Following that we will visit the Armory Museum which features artifacts of Russian history including a beautiful collection of Faberge eggs. After the museum we will have some free time to explore the 3-story underground mall called Manezhnaya Ploschad. We'll have dinner in the city and then we hope to take in a movie later in the evening. Before we get on the midnight train, we'll take a stroll along Red Square - hopefully it will be dark enough to take some photos with the landmarks all lit up.

We had a great view of all the excitement below! Another exciting, yet exhausting, day!

Rachel had her picture taken with this little, cute cuddly TIGER CUB!!

The best acts were from the very flexible acrobats who performed exciting death defying feats! Look closely at this photo - yes, that trainer's head is IN the bear's mouth!

Our evening entertainment - the Old Moscow Circus!

We finally had a real Russian meal - salad, borscht, chicken and fries! And a delicious apple cake for dessert!

After the second museum, it was off to a quick dinner at John Jack Russo's - a very interesting pub-like restaurant.

Although you can't tell by their faces, the kids actually liked this museum. The exhibits were scenes from WWII replicated in actually life-size dioramas.

This museum was far cooler (temperature wise) and far more interesting. Mr. Hood was in his glory!

Yes, ANOTHER museum. That's two in one day!

After lunch we're off to another museum - the Museum of the Great Patriotic War (WWII) at Victory Park.

A tasty Russian meal - piroshki and vareniki!

Learning about Russian history made everyone very hungry so we headed back to the Arbat for a quick lunch.

After Red Square we were off to the Museum of Contemp-

orary Russian History

This is the front of St. Basil's Cathedral - the photo we've been waiting for!

On Red Square in front of G.U.M. We were able to walk from one end of G.U.M. to the other yesterday - it is filled with very expensive boutiques.

Rachel and Ally on Red Square in front of the Historical Museum.

We're finally in....it was cool, dark and kind of creepy. Most of the kids agree that Lenin looks like a wax mummy.

and waited.....

and waited......

We waited.....

Our morning began with a visit to Lenin's Tomb. We waited almost 2 hours to see Lenin's body in the mausoleum.

When in Russia, it's very important to be flexible. We had several changes to our itinerary today which moved today's plan to tomorrow. Never-the-less, we had another interesting, fun-filled, educational day with glorious weather!

Another beautiful morning in Moscow! On today's agenda - Lenin's Mausoleum (it was closed yesterday due to the graduation ceremony for the Kremlin Guards), a stroll across Red Square, a tour of the mighty Moscow Kremlin along with all the jewels, carriages and weapons at the Armory Museum under the Kremlin. In the afternoon we check out the 3-story underground mall located directly behind the Kremlin. We'll have dinner in the city again and then some entertainment at the Moscow Circus!

It was a fantastic day!

The girls are enjoying the view and the weather.

After dinner we enjoyed a cruise along the Moscow River. The evening was cloudy but warm - 25 C degrees.

Dinner in the city at "Legato" Restaurant. Don't be fooled by Tim's face....it was a delicious meal!

Tom in his new fur hat.

We saw any and every kind of Russian souvenir possible to buy. Wait until you see what they bring home!

Chris is hungry for some "shasleek" - shish-ka-bob.

We finally arrive at Izmailovsky Park for some souvenir shopping - shhhh, it's a surprise :-)

Strolling along the "Old Arbat", a pedestrian shopping area, some of the kids ate at a cafe called "My-My" - pronounced in Russian "moo-moo" (hence the cow).

Stopping for a "photo op" along the Moscow River opposite the Kremlin.

The kids in front of St. Basil's Cathedral. The look on their faces says it all....