30th March 2019. Allegro Teain From Helsinki to St. Petersburg, Russia.

We checked out of the Hiliday Inn, Helsinki, walked with our luggage to Helsinki Statuon, platform 9 and boarded our “Allegro” train for transit to St Peyersburg.  It is a comfortable fast train traveling at 227km per hour, but does make regular stops.

Jeanette waving to me from carriage2 seats 3&4. 

We thoroughly enjoyed our train trip from Helsinki to St Petersburg on the Allegro train.  Comfortable in every way, luggage stored conveniently and our trip was interesting.  We passed through a variety of countryside with plenty of snow and Ice. 

Train travelled at 227 km per hour, the immigration and customs officials processed our passports and letter of introduction to the Belmont Hotel whilst on the train at designated security area.  Train was quite full. 

It was a 4 hour trip with a time change.  We arrived at the St Petersburg Station where we were met by a guide, who took us to the car, some 50 metres away.  The driver then took us to the beautiful Belmond Hotel, just superb, dropped us and our luggage and disappeared. 

We checked in with a glass of Champagne, had been upgraded and our suite overlooked the park and in the background was the Church of the Spilled Blood.  How good is this?

View from our window, simply amazing! 

We quickly unpacked then decided to go for a walk, Ken made a dinner reservation at a local favourite, we then set off for a walk of 50 minutes.  Weather is cold but clear blue skies.

Ourwalk took us to the main boulevard.  

The popular gardens around the corner, people out and about as a first sign of spring. 

The beautiful facade of our Hotel. 

One of many churches

Here we are out walking. 

The canal is still iced over and the ducks are walking on the ice.The canal below looking back toward the major boulevard, with superb buildings upon either side.

Katyusha- where we enjoyed a beautiful Russian dinner, no tourists about.  Recommended by Belmond Hotel, not expensive and a terrific night. 

Quaint old fashioned decorations with our waitress.

Our Hotel in St Petersburg the Belmond Grand Hotel, just superb.

Today we traveled from Helsinki to the beautiful Russian Western city of St Petersburg, checked in, then walked the local precinct, before enjoying a favourite restaurant of the locals.  A stunning city, beautiful Belmond Hotel, just superb then quite early to bed anticipating our guided tour tomorrow morning. 

You just have to be excited as to this opportunity.   But weather is expected to turn nasty