St Petersburg again

Today we were taken to the Hermitage Museum complex (world class art in abundance), Church on Spilled Blood (iconic onion architecture) and St Peter and Paul Cathedral (where all the Czars are buried). So much gold in all the palaces and churches it makes your eyes water. There must have been a massive contrast between the rich and the poor, little wonder there was a revolution.

We lunched on typical Russian pies called Pioggia a bit like Cornish pasties but many different types fillings including the signature cabbage and egg ! Its been another hot sunny day so we have been lucky with weather. Back to reality tomorrow in Tallinn maybe. There is a barrage across the Baltic with huge lock gates to protect St Petersburg, which is not many feet above sea level, from being flooded by storm surges.
The outer ring road follows the barrage and there is a deep tunnel under the lock. Its 3 hours cruising and almost dark when we pass through the gates.