After negotiating the souvenir shop stop and skilfully avoiding any wallet damage it was back to the bus time to be driven to Nevsky Prospekt where there was free time for lunch.
On the way we passed the Palace where the monk and favourite of Tsarina Alexandria, Rasputin was murdered and the guide told us the story of his grisly death. It was hot and there was a blue sky so we decided that we didn’t want to waste time queuing up for food and sitting at a table eating lunch that we didn’t really need so as most of the coach party made for the shops we returned to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood and behind it we came across a tourist market selling Matryoshka dolls and other souvenirs and we compared the merchandise on all of the stalls.
Have Bag, Will Travel 
Interesting stuff about nicholas II. That is a lot of wealth!
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Thanks for the comment
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Russia had not been high on my bucket list, Andrew, but your posts are getting me interested. I do have trouble visiting those hideous prison/interrogation/torture/execution sites, though feel compelled to do it since it’s part of the story that can’t be ignored.
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I hope you do Richard, it was surprising at times but always wonderful! Thanks for the comment.
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Now I wish I could go too. Or go again. Whichever. I’m missing the days of travelling to study the history of Russia. Enjoy anyway! 🙂
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Thank You!
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I don’t know, Andrew. I still have my reservations about Russia. I have read about Nicholas and Alexandra quite extensively in the past. So tragic. Does the end justify the means? Such a violent past.
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It is an awful story but no worse than the French or the English cutting their Kings heads off! Visiting helps to understand – I think you would like it!
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The nested dolls are always a welcome sight; I used to have a set when I was a teen; left them behind when I moved to the US. Great post, Andrew!
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Thanks for reading
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Fascinating post again, Andrew.
Re the wealth of the Tsars, I understand that Putin’s private fortune is estimated at over $42 billion.
Although the Russian Orthodox Church canonised Nicholas II and his family (as Passion-bearers, the lowest rung of sainthood), it has never formally recognised the authenticity of the remains buried in the Peter & Paul Cathedral.
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More fascinating information – thanks!
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Robert Massie wrote “The Last Romanovs” about the assassination of the Tsar and his family. After the Soviet Union collapsed, peasants in Sverdlovsk, now Eketarinburg, took him to the site which had been excavated and partial remains recovered. DNA research identified three or four bodies and Russian scientists were able to get DNA from Britain’s Prince Philip to confirm the identities.
A fascinating last chapter in the 400 years of Romanov rule.
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And now Russia seems to be almost apologetic about it!
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Reblogged this on Joel Bodine Post.
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