St. Petersburg, June 2004

Our stay in St. Petersburg was painfully brief, and much of the time was scheduled in trips to estates outside the city. On a city tour before we checked in at our hotel, we saw the magnificent "Church of the Blood" -- an edifice similar in impact to St. Basil's in Moscow. This church was under scaffolding for many years; work was completed only after the regime changed.

SANS field trips included Peter's Palace and Catherine's Palace -- especially to see the newly rennovated "amber room." Photography inside was permitted only on payment of a separate fee. Only on our independent trip to Pavlovsk with Nadya and Misha Pashko did we purchase a photo license. Each palace has its special features and is well worth a visit: we'll show the pictures from Pavlovsk just as a sample.
Peter Paul Fortress -- note the sunbather in the yard outside -- this is a favorite spot for enjoying the sun. Interior of the dome in Peter Paul Cathedral, burial place of the tsars.
Iconostasis in Peter Paul Cathedral, unusual in that it was all in gold.
It's all about graves:
Nicholas I		 Peter the Great
Nicholas II, executed by the Soviets;
the momentos left at the base are intriguing.
A SANS chorister listens intently to a small men's choir singing in a tiny chapel in the cathedral -- wonderful music provided for the tourists.
Concert, St. Mary's Lutheran Church
SANS during our warm-up rehearsal.
Our partner choir during the concert.
Combined choirs during the concert.
Continue with a visit to Pavlovsk