St. Petersburg
July 10, 2016
St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia
Ms. Lee in the Alexander Garden
Ms. Lee standing close to the Statue of the Bronze Horseman
July 11, 2016
The Kazan Cathedral
Ms. Lee in front of lots of columns at the Kazan Cathedral
The interior of the Kazan Cathedral
A copy of the painting of Last Supper was at top of the alter in Kazan Cathedral
Accordian player and his sister performing on the street for donations
Ms. Lee on the canal close to the Resurrection of Christ Church
Ms. Lee near the Resurrection of Christ Church
Another look at the Resurrection of Christ Church
Four saxophone players performing on the church ground for donations
The interior of the Resurrection of Christ Church
Four string players performing on the street near the Russian National Museum for donations
Ms. Lee and Peter the Great in the Russian National Museum
Ms. Lee is ready for a classical music concert at the Mariinsky Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia
Ms. Lee at the stairway inside of the Concert Hall
The interior of the Mariinsky Concert Hall
The Russian pianist, Sergei Redkin, performed Ravel's Piano Concerto in G
After performing the "New World Symphony" composed by Antonin Dvocek, the conductor, James Conlon of the Los Angeles Opera, takes a final bow with the Mariinsky Orchestra
The Concert Hall plaza after the concert just after 9:00pm
The Mariinsky Theater is booked year round for Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake"
Looking at the 10pm Russian sky
Ms. Lee walked back to her hotel by passing the St. Isaac's Cathedral
A midnight view of the St. Isaac's Cathedral and part of the Four Seasons Hotel
July 12, 2016
The Russian Rubles Ms. Lee exchanged in the bank for $200USD
Ms. Lee at the entrance to the world famous Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia
One of the lines to the ticket windows at the Hermitage Museum
Ms. Lee got in the Hermitage Museum after more than an hour of waiting in the ticket line, under pouring rain
The Throne
The restored royal banner
The tools used in restoration work
The steps of restoration work
The decor under a table made of gold and onyx
"The Concert" by Dirck Van Baburen, in the Hermitage Museum
A painting of Venice in the big Italian Hall in Hermitage Museum
Another painting about Venice in the Italian Hall
Detail of a bowl ornament in Hermitage Museum
Ms. Lee at the second floor staircase in the Hermitage Museum
The Bible Hall ceiling and wall paintings were taken strickly from the Bible
A special exhibit about weapons, including this one called "Shapely Musical"
The musical blades come in a violin case
The tzar's Winter Palace libary
The tzar's study has a small piano
A view of St. Isaac's Cathedral from Birzhevoy Bridge
Rainbow over Peter and Paul Fortress, an island next to downtown St. Petersburg
The Peter and Paul Fortress Church on the island
The entrance to the Peter and Paul Fortress
The Peter and Paul Fortress Church
A poster regarding the performances, including the Community Opera
Everyone stands at the Community Opera that includes a live orchestra in front of the stage
The court yard in Peter and Paul Fortress that holds the standing only community opera
A harmonious sculpture at the border of Alexander Park
Conjoining umbrella
The Artillery Museum
This looks dangerous
There are so many weapons on the Artillery Museum
July 13, 2016
The hydrofoil moves visitors between downtown St. Petersburg and Peterhof Castle
This water way leads to the Peterhof Palace
Ms. Lee arrives at the Peterhof Castle outside of the city of St. Peterburg
The beautiful Peterhof Palace and fountains
The Peterhof Chapel
The water way that leads to Peterhof Palace
Water spouts lined the water way between the ocean and the Peterhof Palace
Getting close to the Palace
Two musicians in full costume on a bridge at Peterhof Palace
Look at the Peterhof Palace fountain
A side view of the Peterhof Palace fountain
The Peterhof Grand Palace outside of St. Petersburg
A statue in the fountain area
The main fountain at Peterhof Palace
The fountain characters
Ocean view from the top of Peterhof Palace
Another look at the water way to the ocean
The side yard garden steps and fountains on the Peterhof ground
Ms. Lee in the side yard of the Peterhof Castle
Beautiful little restaurant in the middle of the huge yard
The Peterhof Palace was almost completely destroyed
The rebuild effort since WWII
A small fountain in the garden of Peterhof Palace
Tree trimming is team work
Part of the grounds was covered by tall redwood trees
Say good-bye to the Peterhof Castle
Look at the contrasting sky
The Hermitage Museum Plaza in the sunset
A short section of railroad was cemented in the sidewalk in St. Petersburg
The Russian Fish Soup comes with a shot of vodka
Look at the clouds over the Hermitage Museum
Storm in the city of St. Petersburg
The wild sky above St. Petersburg
The more than 100-year-old Music Hall on the Alexander Park ground offers performances of music and ballet
Alexander Park hasa children's corner
The hallway inside the Music Hall
The end of the first act of "Swan Lake"
The musicians pit in the Music Hall
The beginning of Act III
"Swan Lake" final bow
July 14, 2016
The last breakfast in St. Petersburg