Tsarkoye Selo - Part Deux

Thus we resume the blog. Google, at least when using the iPad, will not allow me to type a certain amount before the writer can no longer see, edit or alter the text. I, too, now share my father's frustration with Google and this blogging platform. And now, back to the show!

 Once we were on the train we had to figure out what the correct stop was. According to the guidebooks it should take about 25 minutes to get to the train station from Petersburg. However, only a few stops in we thought we heard "Pushkinskaya" so we hopped off the train...it was not the stop we wanted. Thankfully there was an elderly woman who had wanted to get onto the train and was banging on the train doors with her cane, so they opened the doors again and we were able to get back on. Thus, we made it to the correct train station.

Once off the train, in the correct place this time, we got on a bus that took us up towards the Catherine Palace. We toured this grand establishment for a few hours. Of course there were some snafus regarding the audio guide, but they were minor and we were able to listen about each room as we walked through it.

My overall impression of the Catherine Palace is that it is nice. Certainly it is beautiful with lots of gold, and light from windows and all of that, but out of all the palaces I have seen Versailles is still my favorite, and the one I have found to be most impressive. Something unique about this palace though, is the Amber Room. Three out of the four walls are done in varying shades of amber and that truly is spectacular.

When we were done in the palace we strolled around the grounds. This was much more enjoyable and impressive to me. For one thing, it was a beautiful fall day, temperature was low 60s, sun was partially out and the leaves on the trees were breathtaking.  Much different from how the weather has been generally, which is freezing and miserable. I also liked how there was so much to see while walking around. The garden is not JUST a garden, there is a turkish bath house, fountains, statues, and so much more.

Upon finishing our walk, we made our way back to the train station where we successfully figured out how to purchase tickets and get on the train AND get off in the right place (our stop was the last one).

We are now back in Petersburg after our jaunt today and are finishing up dinner at a Ginza Project restaurant, Moscva. The food has been good and I like the decor and ambiance of the restaurant. Tomorrow we will try to stop by the Wodka Museum before getting on a 1 o'clock train back to Moscow.

Until next time, this is Alexi Turbow, signing off.