Visited the Museum November 20th. There are a lot of pictures inthis blog ... see them in extra photos. The museum is dedicated to the peoples that inhabit the Russian Landt. Notes .... as written while walking thru the second floor: - entrance fee 350 rub.; little blue footsie slippers are required over outdoor shoes; people working are not wearing footsies. - finding the stairs to go up ... daunting; found service stairs; official stairway all in marble and slippery with the footsies. - Skylight above and exhibits all around second floor bulastrade - english explanations found .... Hoorah!! - sample room of a mountain dwelling outfitted with wooden ladles, tree branch hooks, and appliqued felt blanket - from Siberia ... teepee, skin drum, mukluks, papoose, birch bark utensils, suede, tools to soften skins, seal ... read more

St. Petersburg, Russia The Church of Spilled Blood is a Cathedral that stands just off Nevsky Prospect, the main drag in St.PB. It is built upon the spot where Alexander II was assinated. The Cathedral is built in the the Russian Revival style which is unusual in Baroque and Neo-classical St.Petersburg. ... read more

Arrived at the Viking Line Dock and with all the other passengers walked off and headed towards the tram. Luckily a woman who spoke english and was sitting close to where I was standing was also going to the train station. We walked together to a most impressive facade. The Staion inside is not overly large. The signs showing baggage storage are clear. Decide against giving it to the man and opt for a locker. That this was a wise choice will be understood later. Wandered down the main drag ...Mannerheiminte towards Pohjoisesplanadi. Turned left here and looked for the City Museum. Along the way walked past a lovely restaurant in a glass conservatory in the style of victorian times. Such a pleasant surprise and across the street, past the shut off fountain tables covered ... read more

Not to be confused with Purple Rain ... but the feeling was similarly extatic! Getting up at 08:00 is about as early as is decent when one is traveling ... the Swiss princesses come in late so quietness has to be considered and also a time not so early as to disturb ... it always seems to take till around ten to get out and start the days exploration. 1. Go to neighbourhood postal outlet in Tobak store ... woman immensely helpful ... green fleece left for homeless person ... would have cost 350SEK to send ... that's $60 .... other stuff I sent went as letters. 2. The Vasa Museet ... a huge ship... ornate as all get out ... two years to build ... wood from all the Baltic states and Holland ... over ... read more

Still in Stockholm. Its the fourth full day. Museums do not open until 11:00 and some close by 15:00. The mission on day four was to visit the Kings Library, the City Library, and the Royal Apartments. The libraries were accomplished. The Royals will have to wait for another day. The Kings Library requires all packs and outdoor clothing too be left in lockers. See thru plastic bags are provided for those things you want to bring into the premises. I thought originally the bag was to protect your coat from the bottom of the locker. An exhibition of posters was missed. A small representation of the 60,000 posters donated by Paul Lipschutz was found at the bottom of an impressive staircase. The book with a large number of the posters sorted according to topic was ... read more