Sounds like a very good idea -- what did you have in mind?

Thanks so much for the tip, Edna! It turns out Netflix has a bunch of related dvds, including this one. It arrives tomorrow! It will make a nice break from Massie's Peter the Great, clocking in at over 900 pages. Thanks again!

After reading CTG and watching a variety of DVDs and reading a very abbreviated Peter the Great I am even more excited about visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg. I have ordered some books about the Hermitage from the library and will peruse those as well. Good luck with PTG.

Following up on your great tip about The Sacred Stage, we watched it last night, along with Ballerina on Netflix, about the Kirov Ballet at the Mariinsky. Really good. Earlier in the week we watched the PBS two part production of Catherine the Great (also netflix) -- excellent. Up next: Land of the Tsars, Part 1. There is a multiple disk set on the Hermitage as well. Have we missed anything? So far everything we have watched has been wonderful, but many of the ones still on our list to be seen are poorly reviewed. But we will forge on to see as much as we can before departure -- when not plugging along with PTG and CTG! (I found Firebird really wonderful, if anyone needs encouragement.)

We appear to be tracking each other. I have seen the two part CTG - thought well done. And, I have Ballerina awaiting viewing. I also saw an interesting DVD on Tchaikovsky and then watch Eugene Onegin from the Met. I will search out the Hermitage dvds. Do continue sending suggestions.

We have seen disc 1 of Land of the Tsars – good, about 3 hours. Part 2 is on its way. Meanwhile, Onegin is next. I hope there is time for the Hermitage series – let us know if it is good, it has poor reviews on Netflix. I just finished Peter the Great by Lassie – magnificent. Now I will concentrate on the physical books Lenin’s Tomb and Natasha’s Dance. Massie’s Catherine the Great is an ebook, so I can read it on the road. I’m interested in Culture Smart, also an ebook. So much to learn, so little time! It will be a miracle if I can get through all of that. A friend has told us, and I have read elsewhere that we must take a boat ride in St. Petersburg, preferably at night. I don’t think that is on our itinerary, so I’ll be keeping my eyes out for an opportunity. Any new ideas on wardrobe choices? I’m thinking that since our two “dressy” events are daytime, we don’t have to pack the feathers and sequins. Other than that, hoping for not-too-cold!

Hmmm. That would be Massie. Lassie is someone else entirely...;-)

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

Think I am done. Looked through a large art book on the Hermitage and some photo books a friend gave me of St P. As for dress, I am all for VERY light luggage. So, I will bring a heavish jacket - black - that will be carried on my back; a warm scarf and gloves and hat - easy and light to tuck away in the event of a cold front; an umbrella - of course; then, for 'dressy' one top w/ a bit of 'jazz'. A few cashmeres. Etc. Light and reuseable. Usually, I would bring some jewelry but won't. So - layers - with mostly dark clothes. Going to London first so a bit complicated. Would love to do a boat ride. Also, a must for me, is The Museum of Russian Art which holds the magnificent, 19th C Russian landscapes. They are extraordinary. I saw an exhibition at The National Museum in London of some of these paintings and must see them again. There is nothing else like them. Look forward to meeting you.

It looks like you found the website a bit buggy, as we have. We are going to Paris for 2 weeks after the tour, so we will have a few more clothes on hand. I also tend to wear a lot of black, and have a go-to raincoat with removable lining. You will know that I am dressed up by my scarf! The Museum of Russian Art sounds wonderful. I hope there is enough free time to make a few side-trips. Looking forward to meeting you, too!

I am going on the May trip. Excited!

There are 3 of us in Philadelphia planning to go.

I'm wondering about dressing for the cold. Can you Philadelphians give any advice to us Californians?

According to an acquaintance from Russia, it should be mild with very little rain. She advised light coat and layers.

Thanks, Helen. I've been concentrating on preparing for cold, wet weather -- now I will give some thought to mild! My husband and I live in Berkeley and will be coming from San Francisco, in case other readers might share our route. We look forward to meeting you all in Moscow!

I live in Los Angeles. But, I will be coming via London where I will be for a few days prior to the program.

I don't know if anyone else saw the news yesterday -- record snow in Moscow, twice the annual amount already, with 2 feet falling Saturday alone. Rethinking that light coat for the May trip!

I believe it is an abberation - at least that is what they are saying about the snow in England. Layers!

Hope you get in touch. We are thinking about the Treasures trip in May. Any thoughts, recommendations? Thanks.