Hello.My ancestors set foot onto this land about 400 years ago, they came with the conquering Swedish army as the Finnish foot solders.That's where probably my walking tours stamina came from:) In other words my family witnessed the whole evolution of Saint Petersburg, from the very beginning to the present time.For years I had an urge to do research on history of the city and tell stories about the place, which has been home for my people for all these centuries.Eventually I became a tour [sensitive content]fore that I had traveled the world extensively for years living in various countries in different continents trying to blend into the local communities for better understanding of the world.That helps a lot to convey the information in a foreign tongue to the guests of my city.As a tour guide I've got all the necessary credentials and degrees – in art and history.Apart from leading you through the streets of Saint Petersburg, its suburbs and museums I can show you some places what are unjustly not advertised for some reasons in the guide books.Amongst them are Kronshtadt and the Military-History Museum of Artillery, Engineer and Signal Corps commonly known in Russia as the Artillery Museum.Let's take Kronshtadt - the shield of Saint Petersburg and the maritime capital of the Empire.If you take the trip to Kronshtadt you'll learn about:The foundation of the Kronshtadt fortress during the Great Northern War with Sweden;The first Russian navy base amazing defence  system – the naval Maginot Line; Various historical sites like gardens and buildings; Unique 18th century engineering structures;its part in the Crimean, First World war and other military conflicts; Aiding the North during the American Civil War; The famous Russians who lived and worked in Kronshtadt; The Red Revolution drama and the first anti communist uprising of 1921; The WW2 Battle of Kronstadt and its striking similarities with Pearl Harbor.In the end of the trip you will visit the famous Naval cathedral with its magnificent both exterior and interior bearing no resemblance with any Saint Petersburgian church or cathedral.The duration of the trip is 5-7 hours depending on the guests willingness to take a boat trip to one of the 21 Kronshtadt forts.In the Artillery Museum you will see the development of the Russian artillery through the centuries - from the 14th to 20th.You ll see and learn about the medieval cannons and the modern day ballistic missiles launchers and self propelled cannons.The museum's collection is huge – just cannons amount to 1200 pieces.Apart from the cannons you'll find an impressive fire arms and cold steel arms collections.Also the museum holds a fine battle-scene paintings collection.Everybody knows what AK 47 is – the most famous assault rifle on the planet.So, in the Artillery museum there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to Kalashnikov – the father of the AK 47.There the very first model of the assault rifle is exhibited and on the top of that any visitor can take the AK 47 apart and put it together.By many foreign visitors the Saint Petersburg Artillery Museum is considered to be the best or one of the best   on the planet.Frederich Krupp - the greatest cannons manufacturer was of that opinion when visiting museum in 1883.Also you'll see a missile exhibited there, the missile, SA-2 Guideline, which brought John McCain bomber down from the skies of Vietnam in 1967.With the same missile they actually shot down the Francis Powers U-2 plane in 1960 when he was flying over the USSR territory on an espionage mission.The Museum is located beside the Peter and Paul fortress.The trip to the Museum can be combined with the “Wartime St.Petersburg” tour.The trip duration is 3-4 hours. Though Saint Petersburg is the friendliest city in Russia it can get quite rainy here all of the sudden so, - “if you are going to Saint Petersburg be sure to have some umbrellas in your hands”.