St. Petersburg, Russia

Day 4 – St. Petersburg, Russia (Day 1 of 3)

Today we arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia.  This was surreal for us both – having grown up during the ‘cold war’ it was really odd to realize we were now going on vacation to Russia! We really weren’t sure what to expect.

Our first peek as we entered into the harbor

Our first peek as we entered into the harbor

 

We passed a number of buildings like this - that looked abandoned.

We passed a number of buildings like this – that looked abandoned.

 

Docked next to our ship was this submarine

Docked next to our ship was this submarine – and wow, look at the ornate building behind it!

A very official looking building

A very official looking building – the two-headed eagle is the symbol of Russia.

 

We woke up early and had breakfast, and prepared for our tour.

Our tour today was of the Hermitage Museum.  Our tour guide, Anna was quite interesting and explained the rules for us.  We were not allowed to wear our coats in the Museum, and had to leave them in the ‘coat check’ area.  The museum had thousands of items on display, and we were told they have over 3 million items as part of the collection – and we were only seeing a small portion of the items.  Each hall was filled with beautiful paintings, sculptures and furniture.   The museum is billed as the 2nd best museum in the world, but our tour guide was quite proud of it, and believes it is the 1st best museum in the world.

The Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage Museum

The yellow areas of the exterior of the building used to be covered in Gold Leaf - (like a lot of the interior) but they have not changed to a less extravagant paint scheme

The yellow areas of the exterior of the building used to be covered in Gold Leaf – (like a lot of the interior) but they have now changed to a less extravagant paint scheme

We were one of the first groups, but it was already quite crowded

We were one of the first groups, but it was already quite crowded

 

After getting inside we had to check our coats in the cloakroom and then fight through this crowd to enter the exhibit area

After getting inside we had to check our coats in the cloakroom and then fight through this crowd to enter the exhibit area

 

Crowds of folks waiting wiith us to see

Crowds of folks waiting with us to see

 

The first stairway after entering - WOW

The first stairway after entering – WOW

 

So many rooms were covered in ornate gold leaf - so dazzling

So many rooms were covered in ornate gold leaf – so dazzling

 

A look down at the stairway we just climbed

A look down at the stairway we just climbed – the walls opposite the windows had faux windows made of mirrors to give the hall a larger appearance

 

A royal throne

A royal throne

 

More gold ... so much gold!

More gold … so much gold!

 

The ceilings had beautiful decorations too

The ceilings had beautiful decorations too

 

Another look at how crowded it was

Another look at how crowded it was

 

Beautiful inlaid floors

Beautiful inlaid floors

 

A look out the window to the garden - we were not able to visit the gardens

A look out the window to the garden – we were not able to visit the gardens

 

Everyone wanted a photo of the fancy animated clock

Everyone wanted a photo of the fancy animated clock

 

Adam got a nice photo of the clock.

Adam got a nice photo of the clock.

 

The doorways to many many rooms of treasures and beautiful exhibits

The doorways to many many rooms of treasures and beautiful exhibits

 

Another decorated ceiling

Another decorated ceiling

 

One of the many many beautiful paintings

 

More amazing ceilings

More amazing ceilings

 

More inlaid floors

More inlaid floors

 

This floor was created to match a nearby table

This floor was created to match a nearby table

 

Here's the table that matches the floor

Here’s the table that matches the floor

 

Such intricate work

Such intricate work

 

Some of the beautiful statues

Some of the beautiful statues

 

Lovely details

Lovely details

 

Atlas figures ‘holding up” the building

Another ornate statue

Another ornate statue

Wow....that was a great museum

Wow….that was a great museum!

 

After the museum, we were taken back to the ship.  Because we do not have visitor visas we are not allowed to explore the city on our own, or we would.  We don’t have any tour in the afternoon, so we will have a lazy relaxing day on-board.

Tomorrow we have an all-day tour to Catherine’s Palace.

Day 5 – St. Petersburg, Russia (Day 2 of 3)

We took a full-day tour today that was called “Classical St. Petersburg.” We started the tour with a drive through the city and out into the countryside to an area called Pushkin.

Across the river from our ship

Across the river from our ship

 

There are many canals and ornate buildings all over St. Petersburg

There are many canals and ornate buildings all over St. Petersburg

 

One of the canals we crossed

Another one of the canals we crossed

 

When we arrived at Catherine’s Palace, we were greeted with a small brass band.

A musical greeting!

A musical greeting!

 

We were among the very first groups to arrive at the Palace, and we had to line up outside the gate.

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Adam said the line up at the gate reminded him of standing outside of Willy Wonka's factory

Adam said the line up at the gate reminded him of standing outside of Willy Wonka’s factory

 

It was a beautiful and lavish Palace with tons of gold leave gilding throughout the Palace.  A lot of work went into reconstructing the Palace after much of it was destroyed by the Germans during WW2.  One of the highlights of the tour, to me, was a hallway – with ‘before and after’ photographs of the reconstruction work. They have really put a lot of work into reconstructing the decorations and furnishings of the palace. There are also many art collections on site.   This palace was the summer palace for the Russian Czars.

The expansive front lawn

The expansive front lawn

 

Very crowded already!

Very crowded already!

 

It's another fun adventure together!

It’s another fun adventure together!

 

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After we checked our coats (it's a THING in Russia, apparently) - we entered the main stairway

After we checked our coats (it’s a THING in Russia, apparently) – we entered the main stairway

 

Showing some of the intricate work on the walls

Showing some of the intricate work on the walls

 

A peek at the 'servant's stairway'

A peek at the ‘servant’s stairway’

 

The floors are in need of protection - so we had to cover our shoes in booties

The floors are in need of protection – so we had to cover our shoes in booties

 

More of the detailed wall decorations

More of the detailed wall decorations

 

This photo does not do this room justice - it was HUGE and oh, so ornate and beautiful

This photo does not do this room justice – it was HUGE and oh, so ornate and beautiful

A closer look at the beautiful walls.

A closer look at the beautiful walls.

So much gold leaf! And some beautiful blue tile heating units

So much gold leaf! And some beautiful blue tile heating units

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One of the many dinner service examples they had laid out - to showcase the beautiful china place settings they had

One of the many dinner service examples they had laid out – to showcase the beautiful china place settings they had

 

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More beautiful china

More beautiful china

 

Another version of the wall decorations they did

Another version of the wall decorations they did

This room was pretty breath taking - so many paintings

This room was pretty breath taking – so many paintings

 

Another wall decoration style

Another wall decoration style

 

After touring the Palace we also toured the gardens.

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A simple lake in their garden

A simple lake in their garden

 

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We were told that the building WAY across the lake was a memorial for Catherine's dogs

We were told that the building WAY across the lake was a memorial for Catherine’s dogs

 

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then we were driven to a location where we were treated to a traditional Russian luncheon.  The place was called “The Biscuit” and when we were seated we found wine and vodka already had been poured for each of us.  We had salad, and then delicious dumplings. (There was little slices of bread with caviar too, but Adam and I opted to not try it because neither of us have liked caviar in the past when we tried it). Dessert was ice cream and then we headed out for more touring.

Our Lunch stop. It was a bit dark inside to take photos

Our Lunch stop. It was a bit dark inside to take photos

 

Next stop was the Peter & Paul Cathedral.  The Cathedral is inside of a fortress area, and it contains the graves of the Czars and their family members.

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More of the iconic 'cupola' designs on the rooftops

More of the iconic ‘cupola’ designs on the rooftops

 

It was so very ornate and beautiful (and crowded) inside

It was so very ornate and beautiful (and crowded) inside

 

Golden alter

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After the Peter & Paul Cathedral we were driven around the city while our guide provided a lot of history and interesting facts and information about the people and culture of the area.  From time to time, the driver would stop for photos when we came to a particularly notable sight.

Lunch time rush hour

 

Familiar looking business names were everywhere

Familiar looking business names were everywhere

 

Monuments were plentiful

Monuments were plentiful

 

Adam liked this coffee kiosk

Adam liked this coffee kiosk

 

Typical tourist goodies (with a little Putin thrown in)

Typical tourist goodies (with a little Putin thrown in)

 

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The last photo stop was at the Spilled Blood Cathedral which is a very intricately decorated church – that was just beautiful.

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In front of the "Church of the spilled blood"

In front of the “Church of the spilled blood”

Then we returned to our ship for a relaxing evening.  We had a nice dinner with some nice folks and enjoyed great conversation as we all shared stories about our adventures with one another.

Day 6 – St. Petersburg, Russia (Day 3 of 3)

On our last day, not wanting to waste any of our time in St. Petersburg, we took two tours!  First tour was a trip to visit “Peter the Great’s Grand Palace, Peterhof.”

A trolly/tram thing we saw

A trolley/tram thing we saw

 

Some interesting light poles over the highway

Some interesting light poles over the highway

 

We had to go through a toll gate

We had to go through a toll gate

 

Huge apartment complexes exist outside of city proper

Huge apartment complexes exist outside of city proper

 

Small villiage

Small village

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Peterhof (house of Peter) was another palace full of beautiful furniture and decorations.  Many of the walls were decorated in rare silks, and the floors were inlaid exotic woods.  Unfortunately – for whatever reason, no photography was allowed inside the Palace, so we don’t have any photos. We found it to be very much like the Hermitage and Catherine’s palace though – but with different art work.  We also had to wear the booties on our shoes and check our coats – just like the other museums.

After visiting the palace, we were treated to visiting the gardens.  There are two garden areas – the Upper Gardens, which we viewed as we were waiting to enter the palace, and the Lower Gardens which were full of spectacular fountains.  Here are some photos of the “Upper Gardens”

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At the end of our tour of the Palace, we exited to the “terrace” at the back – and were greeted with an amazing view of the ‘Lower Gardens’ and the famous fountains.  We took a crazy amount of photos – because it was so beautiful  At the top of the hour, they started the fountains, and played the national anthem – and we took too many photos of that too!  Here are just *some* of the photos we took…

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These men were putting away a boat as we got there - we think they were doing maintenance to the fountains on the small island

These men were putting away a boat as we got there – we think they were doing maintenance to the fountains on the small island

 

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After we left the main fountains, we were guided around many of the other fountains in the lower gardens

After we left the main fountains, we were guided around many of the other fountains in the lower gardens

 

Although we had been given many warnings that the gardens were an area where there were pickpockets – we still had a member of our group be victimized. We were looking at a fountain that had a ‘hidden trigger’ where if you stepped on the right rock, you would get sprayed with water – our guide was demonstrating by walking across the stones, and while we were all watching her, an older woman suddenly ran across the stones as well – and moments later, one of our tour members called out ‘come back! She stole my wallet.”  Another fellow in the group gave chase and was lucky enough to get the wallet back, but it’s a shame that it happened at all.

 

 

The fountain with the 'hidden trigger'

The fountain with the ‘hidden trigger’

 

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After completing our tour of the gardens, we returned to the coach and came back to the ship.  Along the way we were educated about life in Russia and really had a great guide.

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Burger King!

Burger King!

 

After we had a short lunch on board the ship, it was time for our next and last tour in Russia – a canal cruise and shopping. It was cold and overcast but we rode the ship in the open air portion of the ship and were treated to a guided tour of the canals – and commentary about the buildings and landmarks along the way.

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After the canal tour we were taken to a large souvenir shop where they had lovely lacquer boxes, nesting dolls, Fabergé style eggs and amber jewelry.  The items were lovely, but since we are trying to ‘declutter’ we didn’t choose anything for our home.

After shopping it was time to return to our ship and then it was our night in the specialty restaurant, the “Prime 7” which is the ship’s steakhouse.  We had dinner with a lovely couple and enjoyed a delicious meal.  I had Lobster and Adam had ‘surf and turf’ – the service was great, and the food was delicious.

 

Another early tour in the morning – so we called it an early night.

 

Click here to continue – to Tallinn, Estonia