{"id":5384,"date":"2017-06-02T17:01:05","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T23:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lundeby.com\/blog\/?p=5384"},"modified":"2025-09-14T09:25:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T15:25:59","slug":"russia-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/02\/russia-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In 1990 we had to good fortune to host a foreign exchange student from Belarus name Aleksey Nikiforovich. That relationship has developed into a lifelong friendship with many return visits over the years. He had long invited us to come visit Russia and in 2017 we took him up on his offer and what follows is a summary of that unforgettable trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We arrived to meet him and his family in St. Petersburg and checked into the Hotel Kempinski (very near the Hermitage) and then set off to tour the Church of Spilled Blood and the Summer Garden in the rain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" src=\"http:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5391 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/960.jpg 960w, https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/960-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/960-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p> The post which follow recap our week in St.Petersburg after which we traveled by train to Moscow to speed a week sightseeing there, including a visit to the Metropol Hotel made famous by the book\u00a0<em>A Gentleman in Moscow.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<center><b>Click on any photo below for full screen slideshow.<\/b><\/center>\n<center>SWIPE or use spacebar to PLAY\/PAUSE.<\/center>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t.LoadingImg img {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmax-width: 95px;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tmax-height: 95px;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbox-shadow:  none;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\/* style for image thumbnail fixed*\/\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .img-thumbnail {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpadding: 4px;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t@media only screen and (min-device-width: 665px) and (max-device-width: 667px) {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .img-thumbnail {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    padding: 4px;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t    \t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-fade .b-wrapper,#fagp_5386 .b-link-fade .b-top-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-flow .b-wrapper,#fagp_5386 .b-link-flow .b-top-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-stroke .b-top-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-stroke .b-bottom-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-box .b-top-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tborder: 16px solid rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-box .b-bottom-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-stripe .b-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-horisontal .b-top-line,#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-horisontal .b-top-line-up{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-horisontal .b-bottom-line,#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-horisontal .b-bottom-line-up{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-vertical .b-top-line,#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-vertical .b-top-line-up{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-vertical .b-bottom-line,#fagp_5386 .b-link-apart-vertical .b-bottom-line-up{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-link-diagonal .b-line{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hidepics {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdisplay: none !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t@media (min-width: 992px){\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-6 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 49.97% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-4 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 33.30% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-3 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 24.90% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-2 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 16.60% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-5 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 20% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-8 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 12% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .col-md-10 {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 10% !important;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#lightbox .lb-outerContainer{\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\theight: 100%;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t.page-id-5384 #elementor-lightbox { display: none !important; }\r\n\t\t\t\t\t.postid-5384 #elementor-lightbox { display: none !important; }\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\/* Hover.css Background Transitions - Use Hover Color + Opacity *\/\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-fade:hover,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-fade:focus,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-fade:active {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground-color: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-back-pulse:hover,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-back-pulse:focus,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-back-pulse:active {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground-color: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-sweep-to-right:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-sweep-to-left:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-sweep-to-bottom:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-sweep-to-top:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-bounce-to-right:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-bounce-to-left:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-bounce-to-bottom:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-bounce-to-top:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-radial-out:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-radial-in {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-rectangle-out:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-rectangle-in {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-shutter-out-horizontal:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-shutter-out-vertical:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-shutter-in-horizontal,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-shutter-in-vertical {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\/* Hover.css Border Transitions - Use only Hover Color *\/\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-border-fade:hover,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-border-fade:focus,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-border-fade:active {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbox-shadow: inset 0 0 0 4px #1E8CBE, 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,0);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-hollow {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbox-shadow: inset 0 0 0 4px #1E8CBE, 0 0 1px rgba(0,0,0,0);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-ripple-out:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-ripple-in:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tborder-color: #1E8CBE;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-outline-out:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-outline-in:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tborder-color: #1E8CBE;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-underline-from-left:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-underline-from-center:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-underline-from-right:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-underline-reveal:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: #1E8CBE;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-overline-from-left:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-overline-from-center:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-overline-from-right:before,\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-overline-reveal:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: #1E8CBE;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .hvr-reveal:before {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tborder-color: #1E8CBE;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\/* Image Color Overlay - Use Hover Color + Opacity *\/\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-animate-go {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tposition: relative;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdisplay: inline-block;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\toverflow: hidden;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-animate-go .b-wrapper {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tposition: absolute;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttop: 0;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tleft: 0;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tright: 0;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbottom: 0;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tbackground: rgba(30, 140, 190, 0.5);\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\topacity: 0;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttransition: opacity 0.3s ease;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpointer-events: none;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tz-index: 10;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\t\t\t\t\t#fagp_5386 .b-animate-go:hover .b-wrapper {\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\topacity: 1;\r\n\t\t\t\t\t}\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/style>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Gallery Thumbnails -->\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"album-gallery-main\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"gallery5386\" id=\"fagp_5386\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-xs-12 spinner-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"LoadingImg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/flickr-album-gallery-pro\/img\/4.gif\" \/><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div  class=\"gallery-container  photobox-lightbox_5386 gallery1\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t<!-- Hover Animation Effect JS-->\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Hover\/Isotope inline JS removed; handled by fagp-frontend.js and hover-pack.js -->\r\n\t\t\t<!-- Inline hover and isotope blocks fully removed (handled by fagp-frontend.js) -->\r\n\t\t<div style=\"font-size: small; margin-top:10px; float: left; display:none;\">\r\n\t\t\tFlickr Album Gallery Pro Powered By: <a href=\"https:\/\/wpfrank.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">WP Frank<\/a>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1990 we had to good fortune to host a foreign exchange student from Belarus name Aleksey Nikiforovich. That relationship has developed into a lifelong friendship with many return visits over the years. He had long invited us to come [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-sidebar","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[237],"tags":[239],"class_list":["post-5384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-russia","tag-russia-2017"],"views":2055,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/russia.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5384"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7039,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5384\/revisions\/7039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lundeby.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}