Our July 2011 2 day visit to St. Petersburg took place during a 14 day cruise of the Baltic on “The Jewel of the Seas”, which departed from and returned to Harwick in England and visited 6 cities including Copenhagen (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), Helsinki (Finland), St. Petersburg (Russia), Tallin (Estonia) and Gothenberg (Sweden).

St. Petersburg, formerly Petrograd (1914–24) and Leningrad (1924–91) is a major historical and cultural centre and an important port. St. Petersburg lies about 640 km northwest of Moscow and only about 7° south of the Arctic Circle. It is the second largest city of Russia and one of the world’s major cities.
St. Petersburg has played a vital role in Russian history since its founding in 1703. For two centuries (1712–1918) it was the capital of the Russian Empire.

The city has splendid architectural gems like the Winter Palace and the Kazan Cathedral, as well as the world-renowned art collection of the Hermitage. Its historic district was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990.

This book contains my personal story, told mainly in pictures, which try to capture not only the cityscapes, buildings, street scenes etc. but also the people and the moods and the emotions. This book is for all to enjoy.