My second day started with my guide, Maria in Kronstadt. This cathedral is a replica of the santa sophia in Istanbul which I saw in 2002.
Lenin ruled the Soviet Republic from 1917-1924. He was the first Bolshevik leader after all the Czars and their royal families were arrested and exiled to Siberia. They were all shot and not buried properly. They were thrown into a ditch and only in the 1990's the remains of their bodies were found and properly buried. They had a funeral ceremony in 1998 in St Petersburg. Man that was rough.
St Petersburg and Kronstadt were founded in 1703 and 1704, respectively. In 2004, for the 300 year anniversary, officials in Kronstadt presented this wishing tree to the city. This was pretty sweet. There are three plaques for love, health and success. There are two ways to make a wish. You can tell the ear in the tree your wish and circle the tree three times (which I did-not going to tell you my wish). Also, on the top there is a nest and two nestlings. You can throw a coin into it and if it stays in the nest, you can make a wish.
Wow! What an incredible palace. This was built in the 18th century for Catherine I which was Peter the Great's wife. Catherine I was the first Russian empress and funny, she wasn't Catherine or Russian by birth.
These guys rock! I have trained them for years and I am so proud of my work.
In 2003 for the 300 year anniversary of St Petersburg, President Bush came as the headliner and was received the Russian president Putin in this remarkable room. This whole room consists of real gold leaf.
This is impressive because this was made with 40 different kinds of wood from all over the world. There are gilded shoes on its legs
the Great brought the first African boy to Russia. In the 18th century it became a fashion to have African servants in the palaces.
Huge puzzle. 500,000 pieces of 400 different hues (colors) of amber weighing 6 tons. Amazing room, the best part of the palace. Good shot of my guide, Maria.
Awesome. Amber along with golf leaf.
Can't see this room in July with the cruises. Nice to be able to see the whole palace in May without the crowds. Good luck in July.
Catherine the Great started the Hermitage collection which you will see pictures of soon.
This is behind the Catherine Palace. The park is so huge that it would 2 days to walk the entire place. There are two sections, English (British) and French. Guess which section we went to? Tea Time-4 O'clock!
Along the pond next to the park.
Had another great bowl of Borscht with extra sour cream-so good. Maria told me that a great drink to go with the Borscht is Kvas. This drink has alcohol (thank god) and is very good. This drink is fermented made of rye bread. Doesn't sound good but it tastes good. Also had Blinis with crab for the first time, wow! so tasty. (Can you tell I am enjoying Russia?)
Hermitage time! The Hermitage consists of 5 buildings. The Winter Palace, the old hermitage, the new hermitage, the small hermitage and the hermitage theatre. They had soliders training out front of the winter palace for tomorrow's parade.
The main room of the winter palace where now days the Russian president, Putin, receives his guests.
The Hermitage might not be the biggest museum in the world, but it sure isn't the second biggest. haha. Only the Louvre, Prado, National Gallery in London can compete with this awesome place. The third floor contains several great Impressionists paintings. Here we go....starting with Van Gogh.
This painting is of his Tahiti wife.
Self Portrait of Matisse and his wife.
This is the longest semi-circle in the Europe.
He did not only use paint but used sand and wood. Nice to see Picasso's work.
In the Golden Drawing Room, this is a Roman mosaic made of tiny pieces of smalta.
The room was meant for ladies-in-waiting. The ladies were trained to amuse Russian Czars and Empresses.
This clock is pretty sweet. The peacock's feathers rises each hour and the other animals make noises etc.
There are only two paintings from Da Vinci in the hermitage. Here is one of them.
is the only work from Michelangelo in the hermitage.
Every room in the hermitage is simply amazing. Nothing special here but just everything is great.
This is from 1669. Rembrandt's most famous painting in the hermitage.
Biggest vase ever!
Great picture of Zeus a.k.a. Jupiter. I have always enjoyed all the myths in school etc. Nice one of Zeus.
For 20 years I have known the joke - When was the war of 1812? (Of course the answer is 1812.) Now I finally learned what war went on in 1812. This was when Alexander I won the war against Napolean. Russian power over the French! NICE!!
Nice one of Peter the Great on horseback. Don't know when to say this so I will do it now. One thing that happens in Russia that I have never seen anywhere else in the world is if you need a taxi, you put your hand outstretched and stand on the curb. Every car in russia turns into a taxi. I met a russian guy from moscow staying downstairs from me at the bed & breakfast. We went out to the clubs one night and needed a taxi. So he puts out his hand and after a couple minutes a guy stops in a sedan. We get in, go to the club and pay him 100 rubles (about $4). Pretty crazy in my book.
