Blahgoff: "The Best Seats Are Free"

Travel writer Rick Steves says, "The best seats are free." This came to mind today as Tanya, Anastasia, and I had a five hour slow stroll through St. Petersburg. On this relaxing Sunday afternoon and evening we had a little rain and lots of sunshine. We enjoyed several concerts. There were bridal couples, pensioners dancing, and birds flying. Here are some of the things we saw along the way:

A fisherman pulled this catch out of the Fontanka (Fountain) Canal

just as we walked by.

This is the famous "Cheezhik Peezhik", a little bronze bird on the Fontanka Canal onto which people drop coins hoping they will stay around the bird. There is a well known rhyme in Russian. It sounds like this: "Cheezhik Peezhik gaday tee buill?

Na Fontanka vodka puill."

My translation:

"Cheezhik Peezhik, where have you been?

On the Fontanka drinking vodka."

Just as I snapped a photo of two swans in a pond in the Summer Garden, a few pigeons flew by. I call this place Swan Lake.

Anastasia and me in the Summer Garden

another happy groom and bride

In the future, whenever anyone asks me to recall a peaceful scene, this will be it: sitting in the shade of the trees in St. Petersburg's Summer Garden listening to a talented musician play the vibraphone and enjoying the fragrance of jasmine in the air.