21 Years Later by Ann

March 1988 – a group of college/grad students in winter coats, a very “regulated” tour, no “shopping” and few places to eat, and snow still on the ground. Fast forward 21 years – a family, only one scheduled tour, tons of shops and restaurants, freedom to roam around, and the ability to attend mass in a Catholic Church. To say that St. Petersburg has changed is an understatement. You still have the same beautiful churches, many that have been or are being restored; the Hermitage Museum with its wonderful collection of Impressionist Art; and the many picturesque bridges that light up at night and also open during the middle of the night. If you are on the wrong side at the time of opening you are out of luck for a few hours. We took advantage of the freedom to move around any time of the day and met many wonderful people: very helpful Russian shop workers, a struggling artist attending College to learn languages, and many, many folks from the US who were also visiting the Hermitage. Next on to Moscow where I know the size of the city and the metro will be overwhelming to the boys!