Rushing through Russia

Have recently come home from a trip to Moscow and St Petersburg via the river, canal and lake system. Such tours are by nature rushed however it was tremendously better than not going. Small matters really appeal, like the unmown grass with flowers/weeds, the double windows and inner courtyards, the dull impression of old apartments suddenly overwhelmed by a church ablaze with colour... We arrived just as the first really good warm days arrived and the locals poured out of their apartments to their dachas, favourite fishing spots, parks and sports fields. Similar joy shown in Scandinavia with a few worrying signs of sunburn on those very fair skins..