Tallinn, Helsinki, St. Petersburg
Jul 29-Aug , 2011
AC362 YYZ-BOS, LH423 BOS-FRA, LH882 FRA-TLL, Jul 31 KF608 TLL-HEL, Aug 6 LX1311 LED-ZRH, Aug 7 LX86 ZRH-YUL, AC831 YUL-YYZ
When I look at my map of countries in the world, Russia was a large void in Europe and Asia that I very much wanted to fill. Although Russia is a giant country, St. Petersburg is clearly the jewel in the crown of the country and the focus of our trip. Once I had decided on St. Petersburg, it made sense to try to visit some of the other sites in the area so I booked a combined First Class reward ticket with visits to Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland. As well as exploring some of the most beautiful sites in Russia we had the opportunity to explore the last of the Nordic countries. By seeing Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg, we covered the cruise ship route without the need to trap ourselves on a boat. Although we didn’t really enjoy the summer and cruise ship crowds, it was a beautiful trip with lots to see and was glad to get to explore Russia without much stress.
Jul 29-30
Overnight flight to FRA, time in First Class Terminal, then on to Tallinn
The well maintained walls of the original Tallinn medieval city centre
Early evening walk through the town headed towards the town hall tower
Memorial to the sinking of the Estonia ferry from Tallinn to Stockholm that killed hundreds
Historical characters, with a small cell phone anachronism, prior to our dinner
Jul 31
Morning in Tallinn then fly to Helsinki
On early morning walk we find the Estonia Parliament buildings
Exterior of Kumu Art Museum, too early to tour, but interesting from the outside
Well protected Synagogue
Tallinn Wheel Well
Setup for archery outside of the town walls
Panoramic view of the old town
The town square with the town hall in the background
Looking out at the cruise ships that flooded the city with tourists
After flight and checking into hotel we explore Kainsaniemi Park in Helsinki
Helsinki Train Station with somewhat severe architecture
Enjoying the long days we check out Uspenski Cathedral before dinner
Aug 1
Full day in Helsinki
Iconic Lutheran Cathedral and Senate Square
Finland National Library
Part of the complete works of Karl Marx reflects the close ties to Russia
Very cool Temppeliaukio Church blasted into the natural rock hill
Finlandia Hall theatre complex designed by Alva Aalto
Exterior of the interesting National Museum of Finland
Finland’s Parliament Buildings
Sibelius Monument made up of 600 stainless-steel pipes
Interesting perspective on the monument
Some of the traditional interiors in Seurasaari Open-Air Folk Museum
Lapland storage buildings
Interior of the 1686 Karuna Church at the Museum
Aug 2
Last day to explore further afield
Looking back on the city from the ferry to Suomenlinna
Historical dry dock on the island still an active work site
Main fortification on the island built to defund Helsinki from the Russians
Bridge connecting the islands
Last view of the iconic building before an evening boat ride to end our stay
Aug 3
Morning train to St. Petersburg and afternoon and evening to explore
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul
Cathedral interior
Controversial statue of Peter the Great
Peter’s Cabin, the oldest in St Petersburg from 1703 used to supervisor city construction
The beautiful and iconic Church on Spilled Blood, at the end of a full day
Aug 4
St. Petersburg and day trip to Peterhoff
The Palace Square with the Hermitage
Neoclassical Gate Tower of the Admiralty
St. Petersburg and St. Isaac’s Cathedral from across the Bolshaya Neva River
After arriving in Peterhof from the hydrofoil our first view of the Grand Palace
The morning fountain show in front of the palace
Close up of the fountain
One of the trick fountains in the palace grounds
The Palace and canal after the morning crowds are gone
Hermitage Pavilion in the Lower Garden
Lion Cascade Fountain
The hydrofoil that took us back to St Peterburg
Peter and Paul Fortress as we make our way back to the city
The grand canals that line much of the old city
A different perspective of Church on Spilled Blood
Interior of Spilled Blood church
St. Isaac’s Cathedral
The interior of St. Isaac’s before we climb the tower
Aug 5
Last full day in St. Petersburg
Lazarus Cemetery outside the Alexander Nevskiy Monastery
The Jordan Staircase, our first room in the beautiful Hermitage Museum
Fighting the cruise ship crowds to get a glimpse of da Vinci’s Madonna Litta
One of the grand staircases in the museum
Dance by Matisse (1910
Library room in the Hermitage
The very long escalator ride into the very deep subway
Peter and Paul Fortress from our boat tour at sunset
Aug 6
Morning in St. Petersburg then overnight in Zurich
Moscow train station in St. Petersburg
Aug 7
Fly home to Toronto via Zurich and Montreal