Pushkin, part three: Catherine Palace Gardens

Before we left Pushkin yesterday we walked around the gardens. While the weather was wet and grey (just like almost every day here!) it was lovely.















There are many buildings throughout the gardens. We did have a map, but it is written in Cyrillic. This building looked like a big music box on the inside. Perhaps for bells?









Another building had mosaic floors and Greek statuary inside.






There is also a Chinese Village on the property.






All for the enjoyment of royalty. I imagine it is stunning in the summer. It was nice to have it all to ourselves, though.

Location:Pushkin, Russia

Pushkin, part two: Catherine Palace

Catherine's Palace is quite amazing. It is huge. Not only the palace, but the gardens. It was the summer residence of the ruling family and was kept up after the Revolution. During WWII the Germans used it as an army barracks - what they did not trash while they were there they bombed on their way out. The entire palace has been redone beautifully.

None of this was learned from our tour guide. We were not very popular in the palace (for no reason we could determine) and were pushed into Russian tour of the palace. Thank goodness for my guidebook and the Internet! Otherwise, we would have had no idea of the history we walked through.







Details of the exterior.






The Great Hall



The porcelain pieces are wood stoves/furnaces.






Our hotel is the building seen through the window.


















One of these rooms has been reupholstered with an original bolt of 18th century silk found in the palace.



We were not allowed in the chapel, but is looks beautiful. Dark blue and gold.





The bedroom. There are many rumors detailing Catherine the Great's sexual conquests and I don't imagine the horses fit in here. It is also quite close to the chapel...

I loved seeing the palace. The amber room was amazing. No photographs are allowed, unfortunately. The detail is just astonishing. One of the original panels is still there and indistinguishable from the new. I am so happy I was able to see it!

Location:Pushkin, Russia

Pushkin, part one

We took a trip to Pushkin to see the Summer Palace of the Tsar's and the home of the Amber Room. Though it is only a short drive from St. Petersburg, we decided to stay the night. The only hotel in town is located in the former servant's quarters of the palace, with a wonderful view of the palace.




We walked to get lunch through the beautiful gardens. There was a large group of students eating there who had organized for a trio of traditional Russian singers to perform.



They were quite good and fun to listen to.

We fed the ducks in the lake with our leftover bread.






Apparently the summer palace is THE place to have wedding photos taken! I was unable to get any clear shots, but there were just so many brides (in really terrible dresses).













And this was not all! There was a reception happening close to the hotel and another next to where we had dinner.

Location:Pushkin, Russia

Dance!

After our marathon day at the Hermitage, we went to the ballet! It was very rushed - our hotel forgot to tell us they got is tickets for tonight, not Saturday. It was really fun! Since we don't read Cyrillic, I don't really know what we saw. It was a selection of short dances. I know at least one was by Balanchine. It was all beautifully done in a gorgeous, old theater.










Tomorrow we head to Pushkin for the night. I can't wait to see the summer palace and the Amber Room!

Location:St. Petersburg, Russia

Hermitage, part two

We went back to the Hermitage today and stayed for five hours! I feel exhausted and proud - we saw almost everything! Truthfully, some galleries we breezed through on the way to others. Neither of us let go of our maps aside from our visits to the gold and diamond galleries when we were accompanied by a museum guide. It is an amazing collection of art. A very different museum than I am used to. While searching for a bathroom we found ourselves in this long gallery.



It seems to double as storage space!!

The highlight was finding the 'hidden treasures' exhibit. On the map the galleries are not colored - possible to discourage visitors? This is where the most beautiful Renoirs are located, along with a Courbet and Monets and an early Picasso. Photographs are not allowed.

Location:Бол. Конюшенная ул.,St Petersburg,Russia

59 north

This is the sky at 8:20am. I am very far north!!

Triton

If you are ever in St. Petersburg, do not go to Triton. It was so bad. So bad. They are clearly trying to be something fancy, but it is just ridiculous. We came back to the hotel and ordered food and watched modern family. It is a seafood place and they have fish tanks everywhere. You walk in and there is a fish tank under your feet.



Behind the table there is a fish tank.



The ceiling has sharks painted on it.



And, of course, the toilet is a fish tank.



It bubbles when you flush.



Ocean sounds play while you visit the toilet.

Ridiculous.

Oh, the bathroom door also has a weird anime-ish mermaid on the door.



There was a piano player and he was awesome. I never thought a piano version of 'knockin' on heaven's door' could sound so pretty - seriously. We gave him a nice tip since he was the best part of the evening.

Location:St. Petersburg

Rest

Today we took is easy. We ordered breakfast to my room (the most insane room service I have ever seen - I won't show photos because I am embarrassed at the amount of food we wasted). Later in the morning we went to the gym and then had massages. It was quite an experience. My masseuse was a compact asian man - this was only the first difference I noted from my massages back home. In the end, I feel less tense, more relaxed and have a great story to tell those close to me.

We took a stroll in the afternoon and visited the 'candyland' church (the Church of the Resurrection of Christ) visible from my window. Unfortunately, we were unable to view the interior, but the exterior is still amazing.













There are so many elements to look at. Each onion dome is different - these are the only domes I have seen with pyramid details! There is a park alongside and even the fence is more detailed than I have seen.







After our walk we had tea at the hotel. It was a lovely late lunch. We each had the Pushkin tea (I am going to have to read something by him - they name everything after him here!!).

Location:St. Peteresburg