9-28-2013 St Petersburg

9-28-2013

LAT Post

Today our first activity was a trip to Catherine's palace.  It was huge and as most of the palaces in world very decadent.  It is Russian law that you check your coat as they feel insulted if you don't think it is warm enough,without a coat...and it was plenty warm.  we were in small groups with a dedicated guide that told us the history of the many items in the palace that we saw.  The walls often were covered in  silk and had the gold gilded wood over that.  The floors were wood in the most fabulous patterns.  The furniture was pretty but for the most part did not look comfortable.  The gardens around the palaces are always fabulous and well manicured with fountains.

Our second activity for the day was a tour around the city with a visit to Peter and Paul's Fortress.  Here we visited a church that was really plainer on the outside then most but was pretty on the inside with lots of guilting ...no pews, have not seen a church yet with a pew ..but all the past czars and a few saints and emperors are residing in caskets in this church.  That is a pretty European thing.  They love painting the ceilings and always have huge chrystal chandeliers.

It was a fun day of seeing many things and a lot of walking.  glad I have my comfortable shoes.

LMR Post

Early up and out - tours begin about 8:30AM.  Today was the Pushkin area of St. Petersburg.  Saw Catherine's palace and grounds. amazing decor.  Lots of wedgewood blue and much more golden opulence.  The amber room and much of this palace has been restored since WWII.  The Nazi's took all the amber from the original room.  Our guide told us we could get a million dollars if we could identify where the original amber is.  If any of you know where it is let me know and I will make the connections...and we can share the reward.

PM was a bus tour of the city.  There were lots of photo ops.  Saw lots of cathedrals,  military museums and major shopping streets.  The next time I come I will stay at the new Olympic Hotel that is absolutely exquisite, only been open for about two months.

Dinner on board ship then on to a Cossack dancing show in a tent neart the ship.  The audience was all from Viking ships. it seemed like the main purpose was to sell CD's, scarves and musical toys.