Back in the USSR

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.........IT was GREAT!!! ....was last here in 1992 (studying) just as the Gorbachev/Yeltzin reforms had rocked the whole country .... $USD was the preferred currency ... now the Rouble is freely traded ... in 1992 the exchange rate was US$1 = 12000Roubles, In 1994 US$1 = 6000 Roubles .... then they had a 'revaluation' in 1997 .... and now US$1 = 25 roubles

..... Well ..... we stayed at the Azimut Hotel near Balticskaya Metro and it was great ... the girls loved the breakfasts .... especially they bliini [Russian crepes] ...

shouda seen Catherine the Great's boudior ....

The Hermitage is just incredible ... the architecture alone is breathtaking ... not to mention the stunning art collection .... it used to be the Tsars [Peter the Great] Winter Palace ...

We caught a train out to Peterhof to see the Summer Palace ... even more Sumptuous .... shouda seen Catherine the Great's boudior .... no wonder she had such a reputation as a fun-lover!

Travelling the metro is a great way to get around ... but fellow travellers .... before you go .... make sure you learn how to read the russian alphabet at least .... your travelling & purchasing will be sooo much easier .... it's a relatively easy language to learn because it's totally phonetic ... so if you can read it .... you can also speak it .... and a little bit goes a long way ...

.... and now on our last day ... it SNOWING!!! ... just beautiful! Will upload some pics when I get to a computer that has a SD card reader ....

.... bye bye Russia ... we love ya .... D'svadanya! Mbl lublu tebye!