Baltic Cruise 2019, Part 8: To the St. PetersBURBs

Forgive me the terrible title to this post.

Monday had been a very busy day with a lot of walking, and I had been out late-ish for the evening concert, as well. Dad opted to sit Day 2 of St. Petersburg out, because his feet had been troubling him the day before, so I was flying solo--but not really, because there were some really awesome people on the tour and it was impossible to be lonely.

We started by leaving St. Petersburg proper for the suburbs (hence the title of this post), where the summer home of the tsars, Peterhof Palace, dazzles. It is known as the "Russian Versailles" and it is home to large gardens with many, many fountains.

While Irene, our guide, waited in line for us, we had a few moments to wander around this side of the building for some pictures.

Finally, we were inside, where we had to put slippers on over our shoes to protect the floors.

As with the Hermitage and the cathedrals of the day before, this place is definitely not what I would describe as, "plain."

In places like this, you find yourself looking up a lot.

A lucky shot with no tourists in it!

Catherine the Great

This room had a bunch of paintings of models in it, because
someone at some point liked the artist's work. 

Finally, we were out into the fresh air. There was a threat of rain, but fortunately, it held off until just as we finished our long tour of the gardens.

Just a small, unassuming chapel for the royal family.

I found this when editing my pictures--my new friend
Shirleen posing for her own picture! 

Peterhof overlooks the Gulf of Finland.

We started to walk back towards the main palace, because every day at 11:00, they turn on the Grand Cascade Fountain, with music and brouhaha.

So of course it was crowded, and of course it started to rain. I couldn't see much from where I was standing (I wasn't about to haul my anxious, claustrophobic ass into that fray), so I listened to the music and then started walking back to the bus before everyone and their uncle did the same.

Woohoo, a fountain.

Fortunately, today's lunch was at the normal time, instead of later. We were ushered into another place, and again, there was water, wine, and vodka.

I ended up seated next to a New Zealander couple, Hazel
and Wayne, for the second day in a row. They were lovely.
Across from me were a couple from Hawaii, also lovely.

This was a potato salad, with chicken, peas, carrots. 

Yes, I ate the caviar again. 

Borscht. It was delicious. 

Stroganoff, on potatoes instead of noodles.

Full and ready for more, we set off in our bus to the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood. It ha the famous "Russian-style" exterior, and is built over the site of the assassination of Alexander II in 1881.

(First five pics: phone. After that, camera.)

The biggest dome is currently under renovation. 

Cheri and Greg, and absolutely lovely couple from Hawaii
that I ate lunch with. 

The inside of the church contains huge, colorful mosaics. I actually gasped out loud when I walked inside.

This is the actual site of where Alexander II was assassinated.

A close-up of the detail of the mosaics. Each tile piece is
tiny.

After our tour, we walked back to our bus, and made our way towards the Peter and Paul Fortress, where St. Petersburg began. Along the way, I took some random pictures from the bus.

 

Finally, we arrived at our last stop of the day. The fortress was originally built to protect the city from Swedish attack, and also for housing political prisoners. The cathedral here is the tallest structure in central St. Petersburg, and it is the resting place of most of the Tsars.

Peter the Great, founder of St. Petersburg

The remains of the Romanovs and some of the faithful
servants who died with them are interred here. The
assassins not only shot them, they threw acid on the bodies
before burying them in the forest.

Our two days in Russia were a bit of a whirlwind; there is so much history, and so much to see that the Russian people are proud to show off. I'm glad I got to see it, and I'm excited to tell my students that I've been.

As I walked back to the ship, I overheard two women, Kerri and Shirleen, talking about plans for the evening on the ship. A band called The Beatle Maniacs was giving an encore show in the Piazza, and they planned to snag some tables by the front and wait a few hours before. I invited myself along and spent a grand evening with them.

I had a White Russian, of course.

The band was great, and we danced up a storm, staying up very late having a ball. This is ship life at its best: meeting people from all over the world, making new friends, and having a great time doing it.

Finally, I went to bed, after midnight. The next day would find us in Tallinn, Estonia, and Choir Nerd Meg was really excited for this.