St Petersburg: Wednesday, October 3, 2018:

We visited The Hermitage today however Putin was visiting with the President of Austria so security would be tight and our tour would be cut short.

There was the Red Throne of Tzar Nicholas II, the Small Hermitage Museum with the white marble room, the fountains of tears with shells on the walls, a mosaic floor, the Peacock clock, the Old Hermitage, the Rococo interior and the foyer for the Hermitage Theatre.

We also saw the Rembrandt painting which was attacked by acid – Zeus’ daughter – and the Decent from the Cross also by Rembrandt. Continuing the Rembrandt theme there was even a portrait of his father.

And we stood in the room where the provisional government was arrested during the start of the Russian Revolution.

St George is the patron saint of the army and St Andrew is the patron saint of the navy.

During the visit to The Hermitage we walked a distance of around 2.5 miles and saw where the Putin press conference would be held. We heard the museum will be shutting around 2pm.

My pet hate is when you line up your shot and one of the group aimlessly wanders in the way – and then takes bloody ages to take their shot. I mean at least switch on your phone/iPad camera on first before taking ages to ages to zoom and frame and focus your pic.

Our meal consisted of Russian salad, vol au vaunt Julieanne – consisting of mushroom sauce with melted cheese – beef stroganoff with mash and pickled cucumber, sponge cake with cherries and yoghurt cream. It was all very good but I can’t get used to so many courses.