Mermaids from Fontanka

Situation: an elderly woman who looks intelligent sits down next to you on a riverboat tour and introduces herself as a "mermaid from the Neva." Of course, you won't believe her. Lisa, the girl, when she met such an elderly... woman, first thought she was a city crazy. Well, where could mermaids possibly come from in Petersburg? The rivers and canals here are encased in granite, crowds of people bustle around them all day long, and there is noise and commotion everywhere. And mermaids love peace and quiet. And in general — they only exist in fairy tales. But after a heart-to-heart conversation with her neighbor on the boat, Lisa learned so much... How freely the water maidens of the northern rivers lived before Tsar Peter built a city here. And how fiercely the mermaids fought against this construction. And that as a result, they came to love Peter's creation with all their hearts. And they began to proudly call themselves not "water sprites," but Petersburg mermaids. But the most important thing that Lisa realized: no matter how refined these ladies tried to become, they could not completely overcome their mermaid nature. They are quite the mischief-makers. So if you meet one of them, keep your wits about you!