Luckily, we had time for a quick breakfast in the dining room, and I'm glad we did (since I don't typically eat breakfast)! They had a cold oatmeal-type dish on the buffet that was AMAZING!!! I think I've found a recipe for something similar that I'm going to try to make. Here it is...
Soak rolled or quick oats in skim milk with 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 cup chopped almonds in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, stir and enjoy, cold or warm. The version on the ship had golden raisins and dried apricots in it, which had absorbed some of the liquid during the overnight soak. YUM!!!!
After wolfing down our food, we got through security, boarded the bus, and headed through the city to Catherine Palace, which was about a 50 minute ride. It was LOVELY to see some of the "non-city Russia" as we drove through countryside and smaller towns to get there.
I don't know much about Russian aristocracy, but Catherine (the Great) must have been quite powerful. Her palace (I think it was only ONE of them) was huge and ornate and gorgeous. What we saw was, largely, reconstruction, since "the nazi" (again one badass dude..see previous entry...) occupied the palace during the war, and, as the nazi's seemed to be quite good at, burned it when they had to evacuate as they were losing the war.
The renovations were based on first-hand knowledge, floor plans, and old photographs, so it was very similar to the original decor, and it was BEAUTIFUL! It was a foggy morning when we arrived, and the fog added a romantic mystery to the grounds...BREATHTAKING!!
After standing in line for about 15 minutes, we FINALLY got to the interior of the palace (luckily, the band, partially shown above, kept us entertained). It was VERY ornate, and beautiful inside...lots of gold leaf and colorful ornamentation...
The grand entry foyer
The grand entry foyer after "the nazi"...
From this point on, we had to wear "booties" to protect the parquet floors...
Apparently, tin foil was a BIG DEAL during this time period. The red stripes in the "red room" are tin foil, dyed red with crushed minerals!
Ditto the "green room"!
Catherine II (the Great)
A replica of one of Catherine the Great's dresses. Apparently, the skirt had to be as wide as the woman's arms, raised straight to the sides. Irina, our guide, said that when Catherine the Great died, the treasury was empty, but she had THOUSANDS of dresses in her closet, and HUNDREDS of pairs of shoes (the ORIGINAL Imelda Marcos!)...
After a couple of hours, the palace started to get REALLY crowded, so I was SOOOO ready to leave and tour the gardens...!!!! It was rainy, and still a little foggy. VERY serene and beautiful!!!
A "mini-palace" at the back of the Catherine palace...built for one of Catherine's more "spoiled" lovers...
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?? Nope...a statue outside the "mini-palace" of one of Catherine's lovers!
Duane...channeling his "inner sith"...!!!
Catherine's private "hide-away" on the palace grounds...
After touring the gardens, we went to a restaurant on the palace grounds for another "traditional" Russian meal (AGAIN with the caviar...). This restaurant was even BETTER than the one from the day before...we were able to enjoy a Russian folk band while eating. They were VERY talented, and it was fun to soak up some Russian music while dining. After a FABULOUS meal, we got back on the bus, and headed to Peterhof...
On the way to Peterhof, we passed the palace of Dmitry Medvedev, the current president of Russia, and who is from the St. Petersburg area. TOTALLY cool to think that the president of Russia lives in the area!!!!
Peterhof was a retreat for Peter II (the Great), and contains approximately 150 fountains, as well as beautiful gardens, overlooking the Gulf of Finland.
The Sun Fountain, in which the force of the water spins the "sun dial" in the center...creating a moving sculpture of water...VERY cool!!!!
Apparently, Peter II was quite the prankster. He had a series of fountains built which were activated by stepping on "trick" stones nearby. Irina said that many noble women, dressed in their best finery for dinner with Peter II, got doused by sitting on a trick bench, or in a "rain gazebo"!
After a tour of the "lower gardens", and a quick look around the "upper gardens", we headed back to our bus...
Duane and me with Irina, our AWESOME tour guide!!!!
...drove back into St. Petersburg, and got back on the ship. We then went to the dining room to have dinner with our "table mates", then headed back to our cabins to go to bed!!!!
TO BE CONTINUED...AGAIN...!!!
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