Russia-St Petersburg

3 August- caught train from Helsinki to St Petersburg. Very easy 3 1/2 hour trip. Had to do 2 border crossings on the train- when exiting Finland and when entering Russia.. First time since Oslo when anyone was interested in our passports. Passed through some small Finnish towns but mainly just forests and some lakes. Arrived mid afternoon in St Petersburg. Hotel is huge- pretty plush and very central. Short walk to the Hermitage and across the road from St Isaacs Cathedral. Lots of very impressive buildings lining the waterways. Went for walk before dinner. Initial impressions- people standing on quayside with snakes wrapped around their necks (!) and lots of largish spoons for sale. The snakes?? There is a monument nearby of Peter the Great on horseback and the horse is stepping on a snake. I read that the horse is stepping on the Swedish empire- as represented by the snake. Monument is impressive anyway - solid marble apparently. Had light dinner at hotel cafe- stopped for a couple of beers- SA tried the local brew, first the light and then the dark. I stuck with Peroni- then too tired to move so progressed to pizza and a green salad. The green salad was a bit different- no lettuce. The green was for the cucumber accompanied by radish, tomatoes and onion. Mainly cucumber and sour cream. We also stumbled into cocktail hour so after my beer I ended up with a red cocktail- not sure what was in it but it was nice. Going to try and find more traditional restaurant tomorrow and time to study up on sights.