Catherine's Palace

We caught the local train out to Tsarskoye Selo to visit the Catherine Palace. The train was a real Soviet era train but on time and serviceable..and cheap. We went to the palace by marshrutka and joined the queue for tickets. We wanted to do one of the major palaces that are outside St. Petersburg and had trouble deciding between Perterhof that surpasses Versailles or Catherine's Palace with the Amber Room. We had loved them both but decided on the latter..

We understood that it would be busy..we had queued here before but the rain from yesterday had cleared and it was summer again, Those who were not in the Palace were wandering around the gardens.

Eventually inside we managed the crowds with our Hermitage training and saw the fabulous sights of the palace. The shere opulance is obscene! No wonder that there was a revolution!! As a spectacular it is hard to surpass so we simply enjoyed it for what it is an important part of history.

                                         
                                                        The exterior of the Palace.

                                                                 Looking up!

                                                       It is a magnificent building.

                                                       Exterior and gardens.

                                                                          The skyline!

                                                              Can you spot Gail?

                                               Ready for an intimate dinner for two.

                                     
                                                 We were on the other side of the rope!

                                                      Lots of gold and spangles.

                                                           Gail ready to perform.

                                                              Seat for two.

                                              Displayed St Petersburg style.

                                   Gail in the Palace. Note the floor! A large section of the palace was closed as they refurbish the parquetry.

We eventually made our way out into the gardens. We loved the ponds and the reflections.

                                                                Palace reflected.

                                               Gail outside the Upper bath house.

There are no bathrooms in the Palace but they had wonderful out buildings for this purpose, This is the Men's bathhouse

                           And this is the Ladies Bathhouse. There was also one for children.

We wandered the gardens visiting many of the buildings, We also went to a short performance by five male singers with wonderful acoustics. We ended up with 3 CD's

                                                         The Hermitage Pavilion.

                                                                    Gail in the gardens.

We had planned to travel on to Pavlovsk another 5 KM South where there is a smaller palace but were are still recovering from our mammoth day at the Hermitage so caught a local bus back to the station and then the train back. We walked back to our apartment, had two G&T's each and a sleep then up in time for pre dinner drinks and a banquet for two. Another bottle of Russian "champagne" and lots of goodies. We depart in the morning for Tallinn.