The train to St. Petersburg

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Early morning (5:30). But still not up before the sun rose. Had a nice cabin all to ourselves (makes no sense to get anything but first class on these trains). The country side was pretty boring. Had to fill out the immigration card as expected to get into Russia, but forgot to bring the decoder I found on the internet. Fortunately a translation was posted on the wall of the train. Always a little unnerving when they take your passport, but it came back. They closed the dining car and restrooms during the passport control zone (last town in Finland to first in Russia), and that's when we got our passport back. When we got to St. Petersburg, there were lots of men saying taxi. I had been told that's OK, but I waiting until I found an ATM to get rubles (it charged me 2%). Then we didn't see the taxi guys again. Followed the exit signs DOWN to the bus stop, then I had to leave Amy to find the taxis again. Back up. He quoted the rate in Euro's and converted to ruples, so I could have just used my Euros to start with. Anyhow, we got to the hotel, they took care of registration (of our immigration card) on the spot, and ushered us to our upgraded room. Problem with my Marriott points because the Copenhagen hotel used the wrong certificate. Won't be a problem to get straightened out, when we can get in touch with them.

We wandered down the canel near our hotel to Nevsky Prospect (kind of like the main shopping drag, for the last several hundred years -- huge old buildings). Again, a cafe for dinner. St. Isaacs Cathedral, now a museum, is catty cornered from our hotel. It's huge and fabulous. Will go there Monday. I kept the windows open until 10:15 waiting for the sun to quit reflecting off the spires, and finally gave up. Gloriously cool room, and quite large with the upgrade, and no street noise at the eighth floor (and no need to open the windows). Can't drink the tap water (they say it's OK for brushing teeth), but they give us bottled water.

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