Been There Done That Too…

St. Petersburg – Day 2

// September 2nd, 1998 // Russia, Scandinavian Capitals '98

Our second day in St. Petersburg our guide picked us up at the ship and we headed a further a field to Tsarskoe Selo (formerly Pushkin) and Catherine’s Palace. On the way we passed a monument that surprised us.It marked the spot where the Nazi’s had been stopped during WWII. We never realized that the Nazi’s had penetrated so far into Russia, we were even more suprised to learn that they had virtually stripped the palaces (including the gold guilding and frescos) in Tsarskoe Selo during their 3 yr occupation. It’s a pretty drive once you get outside St. Petersburg, mostly rolling green hills. Tzarskoe Selo is a pretty and quiet town, with tree lined streets and parks. We were greated at Catherine’s Palace by the official furry meet and greet committee.

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.”

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