P.S. to last night. Was going to sit out on the balcony with my cheese and fruit, but when I saw the size of the green mosquitoes sitting on the glass door, I gave up that idea, 1.5-2 cm, huge beggars!!!!

Sunrise was at 3.37 and sunset tonight is 10.25 and once again no balcony sitting as the mossies have been there all day!! Nothing much in the morning, pleased though with an afternoon tour as it rained during the morning, not much, but it was wet, lol.

Got to the tour meeting spot on the pier outside immigration an hour early. We have to do a passport check both ways and it’s a slow process. The staff aren’t very happy either, rather glum in fact.

This tour was a bus one looking at the sights, and even though had seen some of them, new ones also appeared. I worked out what had happened to the camera so got lots of pictures. Main problem is that there are at least 7 large cruise ships in port and that makes for lots of tourists and buses and congestion. The bus could only park a distance away from the designated photo stops. We also had an elderly and frail gentleman with us and it took a while getting him on and off the bus. First stop was St Isaac’s Cathedral, then the souvenir shop (I stayed on the bus). More driving and a few pauses and then a stop a long way from the Church on Spilled Blood (with scaffolding of course). I didn’t go as we only had 15 minutes and it would take me 10 to get there!! Couple of other stops and then back to the ship in time for dinner!

Another afternoon tour tomorrow.

 Europe’s tallest building  St Isaac’s  Peter & Paul Fortress River Neva Church on Spilled Blood