Our second morning we headed outside of the city to Peterhof, Peter the Great’s lavish summer palace, located along the Gulf of Finland. Dozens of fountains grace the well-manicured grounds. Water for the fountains comes from canals created by Peter, 12 miles uphill from the palace. During the summer months at 11 AM each day, the Grand Cascade, next to the palace and lined with 200 bronze statues, begins with a combination of waterfalls and geysers accompanied by Russian patriotic music. Sprawling over 250 acres, multiple walkways lead through gardens to smaller palaces, fountains or to the gulf.
Following a lunch of borscht and dumplings, we moved on to Catherine's Palace located in
Pushkin. Five golden onion-shaped domes atop the palace church were the first thing we saw on our approach. Started in 1717, the palace was built and was expanded through the years. Heavily damaged during World War II, interior renovations are still ongoing.
Within the palace, we walked through one magnificent room after another. The Grand Hall, which functioned as a ballroom, is 9000 square feet and the walls are lined with 300 gold-framed mirrors. The Amber Room, which reopened to the public in 2003, is surely the most ostentatious, but photos are not allowed here. During World War II, this room was dismantled and the amber disappeared. It was probably taken by the Nazis but no records exist on its removal. This room, as well as other parts of the building, has been renovated as accurately as possible using old photos.
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| The exterior of Catherine's Palace |
Our guide was surprisingly frank about the current state of affairs in Russia. This may not be the days of the KGB, but clearly, many of Putin’s adversaries have suffered serious repercussions for their ideas. Viktor was adamant in his disdain for Putin and said this is the view held by the majority. But, he felt that the power wielded by the government’s upper echelon and the country’s oligarchs would not be overcome in the fixed elections.
This was the final stop on our cruise. Upon the ship’s return to Copenhagen, we are flying on to Lisbon.
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| At Peterhof |
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| Inside Catherine's Palace |
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| Inside Catherine's Palace |
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| At Peterhof |
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| At Peterhof |
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| At Peterhof |
Our second morning we headed outside of the city to Peterhof, Peter the Great’s lavish summer palace, located along the Gulf of Finland. Dozens of fountains grace the well-manicured grounds. Water for the fountains comes from canals created by Peter, 12 miles uphill from the palace. During the summer months at 11 AM each day, the Grand Cascade, next to the palace and lined with 200 bronze statues, begins with a combination of waterfalls and geysers accompanied by Russian patriotic music. Sprawling over 250 acres, multiple walkways lead through gardens to smaller palaces, fountains or to the gulf. 
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