7/9/2015 St Petersburg

7/9/2015 St Petersburg

Up at 8.00 am; sorted bills and money so can take care of the Tour fees etc today. And pay back my share of a coffee bill that another tourist paid for us. I am still having trouble with the Citibank debit card; it will be read by the tap and go outlets (as per London and Paris) but is rejected by the older "enter the pin number" type. Headed for a late breakfast to allow the Chinese tourist groups to clear. They have to eat then get onto their buses etc., so they are fairly "motivated".

The weather looks grey and overcast so walking in the gardens may be a bit damp. We leave at 10.30am so I will decide on shoes just before.

Weather held off and we had a big day:
1. bus trip then walking tour of the Peter Hof palace and gardens (Peter the Great's answer to Versailles)
2. Lunch at a traditional Russian restaurant
3. The church of the Spilled Blood (one of the reforming Tsar's was assassinated on that spot).
4. A night cruise along the canals/river to watch the opening of the bridges at midnight (closed to road traffic but open for cargo ships/barges).

Finished at about 3.00 am.