A ride through Alexandria Park

Alexandria Park, Peterhof, Russia



The chapel built by Nicholas I for his wife



The gardens in Alexandria Park



The home of Russian President Medvedev



Today was our last day in St. Petersburg, and the weather was wonderful....partly cloudy, mid-70’s...just perfect for a bicycle ride. We left the ship about 8:30, and boarded a van for the hour ride to Peterhof and the Alexandria Park. This park was built during the reign of Czar Nicholas I, who wanted a place to raise his children in the country. It borders the Gulf of Finland. There are cinder and dirt pathways through the park, and we had a great ride on off-road bicycles (with gears, I might add!) There were only 10 of us, including our guides, and it was a great group...no complainers in this bunch! HA We saw the beautiful “cottage” home of Nicholas and family, and a lovely chapel built by Nicholas I for his wife. She belonged to the Catholic and had to convert to the Russian Orthodox Church when they married. He tried to make the transition easier for her by building a chapel that looked like a Catholic church, even though Russian Orthodox services were held there. We rode through fields and forests and enjoyed it greatly.

We have heard some good speakers on our day at sea. Retired Colonel Ralf Vargas, who spent much of his career in Russia, gave an overview of life and politics in Russia. He will speak again on our next day at sea in more detail. We met him on the evening we went to the Marinsky Theater...a very nice, approachable man. He is the father of Elizabeth Vargas (isn’t she on The View or something like that??) Anyway, it has been fascinating to learn more about life in Russia, not an easy life, for sure. Most of the population have been content to trade their freedoms for more economic stability...we were told that Prime Minister Putin enjoys an 80% popularity rate. Hmmmm....

This evening we are sailing for Helsinki, Finland. We are scheduled for another bicycle ride tomorrow afternoon. The seas have been so calm, we have had no problems with sea sickness at all. Helsinki is the farthest north we will go...but tomorrow’s temperatures are predicted to be in the low 80’s, so that will be just fine.

Better sign off for now. We love and miss all of you. Special hugs and kisses to Kennedy, Finley, Davis, and Iyla Jane!!