Behind the Facades and the Hermitage

The day started off with a tour of St. Petersburg that is call 'Behind the Facades'. This tour took us to places where tourists don't go and can see how most people in the city live.

It started with a trip on the Metro. We had used the metro before but were told it was against the law to take picture inside. Our guide told us this law had just changed so we all started to take pictures. Well one person in our group took a picture with a flash and the police were there in 15 seconds to give the person a ticket for 100 roubles which is only $3.

St. Petersburg was built on marsh so when they built the metro, they had to go very deep to find solid ground.This is the train platform which takes a 2 1/2min escalator ride to get to.

Russian like pickled foods. There were pickled apples, garlic, green onions, cabbage, and of course cucumbers.

Candies

Dried fruit and nuts

Shots of vodka at 10:30am with a dill pickle as a chaser


During the Soviet Era there was a shortage of housing. What used to be a flat for one family would be divided up between multiple families thus creating communal living. Each family would have one or two bedrooms and then share the communal bathroom and kitchen.
your window looks right into your neighbors window



the juxtaposition of new and old

four door bells for one apartment, one for each family

This one room used to house a couple and their son. Now it just belongs to their son.

a kitchen for four families

Every man must serve in the military so you see men in uniform everywhere

My first Russian friend

the guest entrance to the tsar's palace

hall of war heroes

Tsar's throne

the tsar's private quarters

the tap water in St. Petersburg, it isn't safe to drink because of amoebas