Peter the Great conquered the land around St. Petersburg from the Swedes during the Great Northern War in the early 1700s. In his attempt to Europeanize Russia, he moved the capital here.

Pierre Le Grand a conquis le territoire de St-Petersburgh des mains suedoises, au debut du 18eme siecle. Il y a demenagee la capitale Russe dans son effort pour europeaniser son pays.

To create a city out of the swamps, many peasants died as forced labor. Aristocrats had to serve in the government or lose their land. Peter taxed everything he could, including dead bodies (the infamous “Soul Tax”). Even the church had to toe the line.

Il a cree une capitale sur une terre marechaire. Cette entreprise a coute la vie de plusieurs paysants devenus forcenats. L’arcistocratie a egalement du mettre ses mains a la pate sous menace de perdre ses titres. Des taxes on ete imposees sut tout, meme les morts.

St. Petersburg today is a beautiful city with many parks and canals. Numerous palaces and plazas still impress visitors 200 years after they were constructed. We were here during June and experienced the pleasure of 24 hour daylight/twilight.

Pierre Le Grand serait fier de sa ville qui eclate de beautes aves ses nombreux parcs, canaux et edifices stylises. Nous avons eu la chance d’etre a St-Petersburgh durant le mois de Juin, alors qu’il ne fait presque jamais nuit.

The city has a great selection of cafes, hopping nightclubs (including rockabilly) and innumerous ubiquitous kiosks peddling a wide range of tasty beers.

Il y a plein de cafes partout, des bars et clubs de nuit ou l’on peut faire aller nos hanches aux rythmes russe qui me rappelle le "latino", curieusement. Pour une biere, il nous suffit d'aller a l'un des nombreux kioskes sur les trottoirs. On peut boire sa biere dans les rues, le metro ou les parcs, sans probleme.

It is also home to the Hermitage art museum. Filling 3 former palaces it has over 300 hundred rooms and 3 million works of art. Entire halls are dedicated to single artists. The collection covers everything from prehistory to the Golden Horde to contemporary works.

L’hermitage, musee d’art et palais royale. Il faut une annee pout tout voir. Ouawizawi!!!

Despite these highlights, what Helene and I treasured most about this wonderful city were the simple pleasures.

Lazing in a park on a sunny afternoon. Listening to locals sing out their souls at a sidewalk karaoke. Sauntering along the canals. Sitting at one of the many fountains, watching life go by. Walking home in the rain with a fine amber beer in hand.

Ce qu’on a le plus adore; nos longues marches et courtes siestes dans les parc et plazzas de la ville; ecouter les chanteurs locaux se donner a coeur joie; traverser les nombreux ponts dont l’architecture rappelle un comte de fee.