Novgorod and St. Petersburg

So I am basically providing a rundown of my itinerary according to the website...

Day 5 Moscow to Novgorod
From bustling capital to ancient fortress city. Today we travel to what was once the stronghold of the early Tsars, Novgorod.(Also known as Lord Novgorod the Great...yes that was the name of the city... you have no clue how much confusion that caused on one of my tests in my Russia under the Tsars class) Visit the old Kremlin with its imposing fortress walls and touching World War II war memorials (B,D) (I am pretty excited to go to Novgorod, the travelogue I read said that there was a really comfy hotel that they stayed in here...)

Day 6 Novgorod to St. Petersburg
Today we travel to what some still consider the true capital of Russia, St. Petersburg. Named after Peter the Great, the city was built to be Russia's "Window on Europe". (It was also built to be a seaport to allow Russia greater naval power and access to trade routes) We visit Peter's summer palace, Petrodvorets, famous for its baroque architecture and intricate gardens.(but apparently we don't get to go inside...) (B,D)

Day 7 St. Petersburg
Our local guide takes us around St. Petersburg this morning. Step back in time as we tour the Hermitage which now holds what remains of the personal art collection of Catherine the Great.(that is amazing! But it is also where the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government in 1917.) Later, take a stroll along the busy Nevsky Prospekt and perhaps take in a performance of the world famous Russian Ballet tonight. (Not planning on going to the Ballet, it is kind of expensive and I don't love ballet...) (B)

Day 8 St. Petersburg to Helsinki (Finland)

Today we farewell the former Soviet Union, making a short stop in the medieval city of Vyborg, before entering Finland. We travel through pine forests and reindeer sanctuaries to the quirky capital, Helsinki. (B,D)

The following are included in the tour cost:

Novgorod: Guided tour of the old town; See the Millennium Bell.

Petrodvorets: Visit the garden and see the fountains of the Tsars' Summer Palace

St. Petersburg: Guided tour of the Hermitage; See the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress; See the church of the Spilt Blood and the Admiralty. (The Church of the Spilt Blood is where Alexander II was assasinated in 1881)

Vyborg: Orientation of the town

These are the extra tours that I can choose to do or not...

St. Petersburg

Guided Tour of Siege of Leningrad Memorial (Euro 8.50) ($13)
Visit the World War II memorial to the one million people who lost their lives during the Siege of Leningrad. Our guide takes us through the memorial and explains the historical significance of the siege, and the impact on the people of the city. (I cried like a baby during the video we watched in class about the seige. It was a horrible time. I want to go, but I think it will be a somber experience...)

Evening Canal Cruise (Euro 15.00) ($23)
Join us on an evening cruise weaving through the canals of the Neva River to discover why St. Petersburg is known as the "Venice of the North". Glimpse the famous Aurora battleship and the drawbridges that are opened every night. (Sounds like fun, I will go on this one!)

Guided Tour of Peter and Paul's Fortress (Euro 11.50) ($18)
We visit Peter the Great's original fortress which was constructed over 300 years ago to protect the newly built city of St. Petersburg. Our visit includes entry into the Cathedral to see the final resting place of all the Tsars from Peter I to Alexander III, and the tombs of the last Tsar Nicholas II and his family.(ANASTASIA!) An interesting journey through Russian Imperial history. (Hezzeck Yes, I am doing this!)

Mumu Traditional Dinner (Euro 23.00) ($36)
An evening at a traditional restaurant named after Ivan Turgenev's famous story of Mumu the dog. Your chance to try beef stroganoff - a dish created in the Stroganoff Palace of St. Petersburg. The dinner consists of a three-course meal including a glass of champagne and coffee. (Thereare a couple pros and cons for this...First the Pros: I <3 Beef Stroganoff, I even know how to say "I love Beef Stroganoff" in Russian! This is the biggest pro. The Cons: It is a restaurant named after a dog, this concerns me; it is kind of pricy for a meal that I can make at home for 10 bucks, I don't love champagne... I will probably see when I get there)

Russian Ballet Performance (Approx. Euro 60.00 - 70.00) (roughly $100)
This is your opportunity to see world-famous Russian Ballet in the city where the 'Nutcracker' & 'Swan Lake' came to life. For over 270 years St. Petersburg has been the home of ballet, producing such greats as Anna Pavlova and Rudolf Nureyev. If there is one place in the world to experience ballet, St Petersburg is it! (not gonna spend $100 to watch a ballet, I could use the evening to do laundry I am sure)

Up next in my countdown to Russia (and other fun countries... days 8 through 12 Finland and Sweden!