We must have walked 6-7 miles on this day. Even 20 year old Dmitri was a little tired as we crossed the Dvortsovy Most(bridge) toward the Admiralty and the finale for our day, the St. Isaacs Cathedral. We stopped and rested in a little park and I took the opportunity to tell Dmitri that I had beaten Stepan in Russian billiards for the first time last week 3-2. He was quite pleased to hear that, though he did imply he didn't really care for pool that much.
St Petersburg is quite cosmopolitan, you hear German, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, and every once in a long while, American accented English. As we began to near our final destination, crowds of college student traveler materialize. This beautiful building is designed by a French architect and gives the best views of the city. You buy tickets for most things in Russia at a place designated "Kacca", and we bought 4 to climb 262 steps to the top of the dome and colonnade. We did this with a gaggle of Euro students jabbering in a number of languages. It was a good climb, but it is always comforting at 50 years to be less out of breath than those who are 30 years younger. I take great joy in 20 yr olds gasping for breath when I am merely breathing hard with a bit of a good pulse.The girls and Dmitri also were non-plussed by the effort. I guess we are all pretty OK.
It is crowded up here. Lots of photo interference going on, but most everyone is pleasant. Views are extraordinary. We all take lots of pictures(those will follow). You go down a different narrow staircase....I am always in danger of whacking my head in these instances....and back on the street.
At this point our friend needs to leave us for home and there is some discussion of our location in respect to our destination. My New Mexico roots have bestowed a good sense of direction upon me(sometimes) and during the subsequent mild argument about route, I am vindicated by both the citizen and my female company.
We take the opportunity to invite Dmitri to dinner with us; he accepts. We choose a place called Terrassa...a swanky upscale place with views from a 6th floor. We plan to meet a few hours later at the restaurant, but as things happen....while we are walking down Nevsky in the evening to the restaurant, Dmitri comes up behind us at an intersection. Smiles all around. We are all friends after only a day. Life is good.
St Petersburg is quite cosmopolitan, you hear German, Swedish, Norwegian, Italian, Spanish, and every once in a long while, American accented English. As we began to near our final destination, crowds of college student traveler materialize. This beautiful building is designed by a French architect and gives the best views of the city. You buy tickets for most things in Russia at a place designated "Kacca", and we bought 4 to climb 262 steps to the top of the dome and colonnade. We did this with a gaggle of Euro students jabbering in a number of languages. It was a good climb, but it is always comforting at 50 years to be less out of breath than those who are 30 years younger. I take great joy in 20 yr olds gasping for breath when I am merely breathing hard with a bit of a good pulse.The girls and Dmitri also were non-plussed by the effort. I guess we are all pretty OK.
It is crowded up here. Lots of photo interference going on, but most everyone is pleasant. Views are extraordinary. We all take lots of pictures(those will follow). You go down a different narrow staircase....I am always in danger of whacking my head in these instances....and back on the street.
At this point our friend needs to leave us for home and there is some discussion of our location in respect to our destination. My New Mexico roots have bestowed a good sense of direction upon me(sometimes) and during the subsequent mild argument about route, I am vindicated by both the citizen and my female company.
We take the opportunity to invite Dmitri to dinner with us; he accepts. We choose a place called Terrassa...a swanky upscale place with views from a 6th floor. We plan to meet a few hours later at the restaurant, but as things happen....while we are walking down Nevsky in the evening to the restaurant, Dmitri comes up behind us at an intersection. Smiles all around. We are all friends after only a day. Life is good.
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