The family church of Czar Nicholas II, about 30 km from St. Petersburg.

ST. PETERSBURG

HIGHLIGHTS * Josh's stolen (and returned) luggage * whirlwind bus tour * the Nixon bedroom at the U.S. Consulate * Morris "Rusty" Hughes, the consul * our two sprawling apartments * Nikolai and Tania, our new Russian friends * the mushroom soup * Elizabeth's toast * Carole hitting on our waiter * the Ambassador Steps at the Hermitage * Tania's guided Hermitage tour * buying honey at the market * St. Isaac's Cathedral * fantastic seats at the Kirov Ballet plus a backstage tour of the Mariinesky Theatre * the smokiest Irish pub on the planet * our "honorary" photographic fellow * the stuffed bear at Podvoreye restaurant * the waitress who served a momentarily under-the-weather Donald on the bus * the fanatical way in which the Soviets rebuilt the Nazi-gutted Pavlovsk Palace * the "Captain's Daughter" orchestra * the belly dancer who left when she saw our group

Right, who is the Mystery Fellow? Below, a frozen canal. Bottom, the splendors of the Hermitage.

Left, the premiere of "The Captain's Daughter," a Russian-American musical featuring a lot of skinny-legged guys in tights. Below, "Carole the Great" sits in Catherine's seat in the Hermitage Theatre. Bottom, Kristin and Donald with "Daughter" producer George White.

Above right, Sasha enjoys the rococo splendor of the Mariinesky Theatre. Below, Margo wears her sunglasses at night.

Helsinki page Donald's home page