Our First Trip to St. Petersburg, Russia - November 2001

Steve and I have had a busy 2001 -  We went to judge dog show in St. Petersburg, Russia and spent a week there and then a week in Amsterdam.  

The ornate Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood (1883-1907) was built on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881.

St. Petersburg Skyline - St. Isaac's Cathedral with gold dome

Left: We were thrilled to have seen the Russian Ballet perform "The Nutcracker Suite" at the the famous Mariinsky theater (right).

This palace of Catherine the Great was spectacular!

At the Dog Show - I'm judging Afghans, giving a critique to my interpreter, Alexi.  Steve gives his critique of a Giant Schnauzer to Larisa, his interpreter.

Best In Show Whippet  

The best part of the trip - New Friends!

Next to Steve is Sasha (Schnauzers) and Vadim and Julia  (Whippets).

Above: The Fortress of St Peter and St Paul with Larisa -  one of our interpreters. She took me shopping for my Russian fur hat.

Right: tomb of Catherine the Great.  Within the fortress is the Peter and Paul Cathedral,the resting place of most of the Romanov monarchs (excepting Peter II, Ivan VI, and Nicholas II). Their sarcophagi can be viewed inside.

Fortress of St Peter and St Paul
See pictures of our second trip to Russia
Return HOME