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| A calm summer week |
The scripture in 2 Nephi 2 was previously described in Ken's commentary on the meaning of the Atonement of Christ. This is the subject that gives life meaning and changes people.
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| Jane of Orem, Utah & her fiance' with Sister Karlsson of Sweden and Sister Monson of South Jordan |
First visitors of the week for our usual Monday night dinner were the volunteers and guests.
Then we had the sad day on Tuesday. The weed-wackers came through and took out the one tomato plant that Ken had tried to put out in the park where it would get lots of sun. He put a marking tape around it, but they got it anyway.
Our main visitors of the week were Janet Campbell from North Carolina and Sue Gong from New Hampshire. They are Sue's two wonderful friends, and they came over to visit! Sue met them at the Moscow train station of St. Petersburg on Friday morning as they arrived after taking the night train.
Since then we have been 'playing hooky' from the mission and doing all the tourist things with Janet and SueG. Ken dutifully performed the Friday afternoon Hermitage service by himself at the turnstiles, while Sue wandered around the museum to show her friends all her favorite spots.
Friends for 40+ years:
Janet Campbell of North Carolina,
Sue Allen, and Sue Gong
from New Hampshire
On Friday evening we went to see ballet at the Mikhailovsky Theater. It was wonderful! "Le Fille Mal-Gardee" which is "The Poorly-guarded Girl." The dancers were terrific, the music was delightful, and we had a wonderful time!
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| Three friends before St. Peter & Paul Cathedral in the Fortress |
The next day was very busy as we walked over 12 kilometers from 9am to 11pm. It started out in the morning as we first took a subway to the stop nearest the Peter & Fortress.
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| Altar between the royal coffins |
Peter & Paul Cathedral was founded by Peter the Great himself. The first church on the site was built about 1713. Now all of the Tsars of Russia since Peter I are buried here, along with many of their wives and children. The graves of the last one, Tsar Nicolas II and his family, were moved here in 1998. They were assassinated during the Russian Revolution in 1918.
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| Cupola above the altar |
We climbed the belfry, exploring the carillons, and patrolled the ramparts. A tourist helicopter is based just outside the fortress.
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| The LDS Institute Building: Fontanka 56, as seen from our river cruise |
In the afternoon we took a boat tour along part of the Neva River and through the several canals of St. Petersburg. It was a glorious sunny day, and we enjoyed it, even though the tour narration was all in Russian.
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| The Russian (Art) Museum at Mikhailovsky Garden |
After the boat trip, the next stop was the Russian Museum. The Hermitage has art from all over the world, but the Russian Museum is art by Russian artists only.
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When they made us leave the Museum because it was closing time, we walked along the canal by the Spilled Blood Cathedral. Janet and SueG looked at all the vendors selling souvenirs to trying to decide what to buy and take home. We'll go back next week to make final purchases. We had dinner at Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant nearby. (He's a British TV Chef.) Sue G was having a hard time walking, so took a cab back to the hotel. Janet, Sue A, and Ken walked to Palace Square to watch some of the concert celebrating the 315th Birthday of St. Petersburg.
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| 315 years: The Nine pm Concert at Palace Square |
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| The Concert After Dark |
So this is why the blog is so late this week--we were too busy playing! And more to come next week!
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