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CABC Scandinavia Choir Tour

Day 7:  St. Petersburg

The next day was mainly a sight-seeing day, starting by just wandering around town with Tanya, our local guide. It was interesting to discover that neither she nor her cohort Natasha (on the other bus) worked for Intourist; now that free enterprise has taken root, many private guide companies have sprouted up, and they both work for independent outfits. It was raining on and off, but we still jumped out of the bus at the Nivo River (picked up Common Tern there), went through the normal picture-taking routine, and ultimately ended up at Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Here were the tombs of Nicolas II and Peter the Great (among others), as well as the glorious interior work so typical of cathedrals of this era. We listened to a small men’s choir that was heavenly (thankfully they were selling CDs) and then we got to do an impromptu piece! (We didn’t have a piano so I think we ended up on the wrong key, but at least it held together...) Outside there was a statue of somebody-or-other that supposedly gave you good luck if you rubbed his knees, so "kneedless" to say (sorry) that area was rubbed golden! Several of the more uninhibited members of our group hopped up on his lap for pictures...

Spire at Peter and Paul Cathedral               View of interior ceiling                 Rob leads us in an impromptu performance at

Some of our crew poses on the good luck statue!

After that we went to St. Isaac’s Cathedral where you had to pay to take pictures (as we did in all the places we went to thereafter; although I opted out here I reneged on the others, figuring, "When am I ever gonna be coming back again?") Here, only a couple of people did take pictures, so without any references I don’t remember much of the place (do I remember much even with the pictures?!), but I do remember the gated area near the altar where only priests and men were allowed to go (that prompted some comments about being equal in Christ). What I thought was very interesting was that they had the figures of Jesus and several others above the altar carved in 3D, yet the faces were painted on flat wall!

We could take pictures outside, so I did so, and some people took advantage of the vendors all around. I really wanted one of those political babushka dolls (or whatever they were called), but all they had were new ones with realistic paintings on the doll, not the caricatures I had seen the last time I was in Russia, so I was disappointed.

                                    Me outside of St. Isaac's Cathedral*                        Sculptured ceiling outside the cathedral

We had lunch at a buffet restaurant (some of us, anyway), which was very good, and then headed to the Hermitage. I barely remembered the place from 30 years ago, but some of the things jogged my memory, like the mosaic floor with the dragons, the "Raphael Hall" with dragons on the wall, the griffins holding up the display cases, and the peacock clock! We also saw the coronation carriage of Catherine the Great, Peter the Great’s throne, the elevated garden, and several paintings by the masters, including one by Rembrandt of the Prodigal Son, where he clandestinely inserted Satan’s face into the son’s foot! He also painted the father’s hands as both male and female, illustrating both compassion and punishment (even though the Bible says nothing of the latter). You really couldn’t explore the place on your own though; the guides dictated which areas you went to pretty much, just because the crowds were so large.

                    On to the Hermitage, Russia's most famous museum.        Peter the Great's impressive throneroom;

                                                                                                                            the double-headed eagle signifies the great

                                                                                                                            expanse of Russia, from east to west.

That night we went to the Central Baptist Church and had another wonderful concert. While the people seemed rather reserved during the service, afterwards they were just all over us, especially a group of giggly girls who wanted our autographs! We handed out CDs which they really appreciated, too! There was one fellow in particular who was an English teacher, and he was just having a big time talking with us, he was so excited!  It was a great time of worship and fellowship.

                                    Central Baptist Church*                                        Our gang from the balcony*