The view down the canal from Lappenratta to Vyborg on the canal. There were 8 or 9 locks to go through to get down to sea level at Vyborg.

 Note Vaughn, Marjuska, and Taru -- as well as the Finnish flag.

 Vaughn and a "kid" and a "grandkid"!

 Deep, dark, forbidding woods -- you can see nothing after the first 5 or 6 feet.

The menacing watchtowers of Soviet times.  Last time we saw these, we were in the sights of an 18 year old with a Kalashnikov aimed at us.

 From a ride down the Neva River and on side canals -- remember Peter wanted to make St. Petersburg the "Venice" of the North.

 The Fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul, with the Red Sails boat.

 A closer picture of the Red Sails boat for the celebration.

 The "front door" of the Hermitage, Peter's Winter Palace.

 A view from the Kissing Bridge.

 The first staircase you see inside the Hermitage.

 Just another beautiful building in St. Petersburg. They are all over the place.

 The lighthouses for the port -- the red columns you see.

 

 Revolution Square -- just watch "Dr. Zhivago" again, and you'll see what happened here.

On the way home, we Kindled a Scrabble game -- but our opponent, "Al" (whoever he is) cheated and won.  I couldn't figure out how to challenge his word.