Catherine’s Palace, one of the most recognizable and photographed palaces in the world, is stunning from the outside – let alone the inside, and what most people envision when they think of the palaces of the Czars. The trademark vivid blue finished palace, with white trim and gilden gold accents are whimsically decorated with statues and charming doornockers, is situated in the middle of lush grounds with statue gardens and tranquil pools (the pups have definately got it made!).

This was definately one place it paid to have a private tour guide. The line to enter was over a half hour long. We walked straight by the line and into the palace. Every aspect of the palace is exquisite, from the carved ballustrades, to the fresco on the walls and ceiling, to the furnishings, to the parquet floors. Some of the rooms are neo-classical (not gold guilded, more pastel colors, painted walls with cherubs and flowers, statues and carvings that look like the walked out of Rome), and some have been restored the the Palace’s original granduer featuring mirrored walls and guilded gold everywhere.

After our tour of Catherine’s Palace we headed to Pavlovsk which was a gift from Catherine the Great to her son Paul. It’s built in neoclassical style and is the least oppulent of the palaces we visited. It also felt the most like a home. I can see why this was Paul’s wife’s favorite residence. Note: if you’re looking for cheap souvenirs we bought some really cute Russian Stacking Dolls here from a vendor outside. They were the Chicago Bulls – Rodman/Michael Jordan era. Rodman even had green hair! We paid around $3.00 US. They were a hit back home. You can buy expensive, well made ones in the craft stores – but the more eccentric ones (like the NBA teams) are a lot more fun. On our way back to the ship we drove past Church of the Savior “On the Blood.”

with beautiful stuccoed painted buildings – there was just one problem with that… the weather. It seems that there is so much damp and cold here that the finish on the buildings becomes dingy almost immediately. Well, it was a beautiful idea, and unfortunately now they’re stuck with it.

The lackluster exteriors of St. Petersburg’s buildings gives way to incredible delights on the inside. I haven’t since this much gold guilding since Rome! The first stop on our little expedition was the Winter Palace, also known as the Hermitage Museum. The world famous Hermitage museum is one of the largest museums in the world housing classic paintings by the likes of Renoir, Degas, Monet, Cezanne, van Gogh and Gauguin, along with treasures from Russia’s imperial past and other objects d’art from around the world. Technically the Hermitage is an extension of the Winter Palace, the museum/palace actually is actually three different but adjoining buildings; The Large Hermitage, The Winter Palace, and The Small Hermitage. To give you an idea of the size of the museum, the Winter Palace (building) alone has over 1000 rooms and 12 miles of galleries with more than three million exhibits. Unless you plan to spend a few days wandering the halls you need to decide which collections you want to see. One advantage the Hermitage has over a typical museum is that it used to be a palace, though none of the Czars spent much time here, it is palatial. Ornate carvings, gilded walls, murals, frescos, every royal touch you can imagine – the building itself is a work of art, let alone the priceless treasures of art it houses. One of the most interesting pieces is a Peacock Clock attributed to English Jewler/Clock maker James Cox. After leaving the Hermitage we left to visit a small church that now houses on the second floor quality Russian handicrafts – a great place to go souvenier shopping!

We returned to the ship and relaxed for a while, and then left on another wonderful adventure. This one was a tour booked through the ship, it was an evening concert at the Rose Pavilion featuring classical music performed by one of St.Petersburg’s best chamber ensembles. They were incredible – and young! I don’t think any of them were over 25.

Adding to the beautiful music was the atmosphere. We were greated upon arrival by impeccably attired waiters presenting us with a glass of champaigne at the entrance to this gorgeous classical building with cherubs and angles in gold with strands of flowered garland painted on the walls. It was a perfect evening except for the two people in front of us who insists on talking through the entire performance! I swear they’re following us around! Doesn’t anyone have any consideration for anyone else anymore?