St. Petersbourg, Russia

Packing my bags for a 2-day shoot in St. Petersbourg, Russia. Tomorrow the 21st of June is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. St. Petersbourg is at 59 degrees 56 minutes North latitude, so the sun doesn't set at night, which makes for a good street party. We will be filming for "Musica" on Euronews, featuring a concert at the Mariinsky Theater and an interview with conductor Valery Gergiev, also artistic director of The Stars of the White Night Festival.

Russia is one of the most difficult countries to get into, even harder for journalists. I don't know why they make it so difficult. Something to hide? I have been travelling to Russia and the former Soviet Union for many years and things haven't changed in over 20 years... the same dark entry hall with stern-faced uniformed customs agents who bark orders at you. Well, I'm hoping things have changed a bit. I haven't been back in a few years, so we will see. But there is still that knot in the stomach in anticipation of lots of problems, negotiations, paperwork at the border.