Monday July 16, 2007
We docked this morning alongside a couple of other (bigger) cruise ships in Russia’s largest port. The city was built by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 as Russia’s ‘Window to the West’ … designated Russia’s capital in 1712 … had its name changed to Petrograd, then Leningrad, following the 1917 communist revolution … and finally, in 1991, when the Soviet Union upended, returned to its original name: St Petersburg.
(Here endeth the history lesson.)
We got only the tiniest glimpse of this famous city today, but it’s already obvious: St Petersburg is a contradiction – drab and unkempt in places (like near the port where we’re located) … smartened-up and lovely in others (like in the inner-city and along the main canal) … and breathtakingly gorgeous in still others.
In the ‘breathtakingly gorgeous’ category are the fabulous cathedrals, palaces and monuments that await you here – and we spent a few hours in one of them this morning.
A 50-minute drive took us from the port to Tsarskoye Selo (the Tsar’s Village). Peter the Great had this estate and its masterpiece-palace built for his wife Catherine in 1710. During WW2 it suffered severe damage (and lots of its treasures were stolen), but it has since been gloriously restored.
And, I’ve gotta tell you: ‘gloriously’ is no exaggeration!
The blue-white-gold exterior is glorious. And the gold-embossed interior is double-glorious! The Picture Gallery, the Great Hall, the famous Amber Room – they all took our breath away. And the surrounding gardens and parks simply add to the gloriousness (or should that be gloriousity? or just plain glory?).
This evening, decked out in our finest, our mad midlifers are heading out in two different directions for a night on the town: some to Ballet at the Musical Comedy Theatre … and the rest of us to a Russian Folklore Extravaganza where we might get to try our hand at cossack dancing.
Eat your heart out!
PEOPLE NEWS: Another mad awards was announced today:
* The ‘Old Toothpaste Trick Award’ to Don C – who, upon hearing one of our ladies say she’d run out of toothpaste, used one of the oldest lines in the book: “I’ve got some Colgate – you can come down to my cabin and have a squeeze!”
TOMORROW: A multi-domed fantasy church and the staggeringly wealthy Hermitage Museum. So stay tuned …
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
To Betty Squire abd her friends !! All of them including all new ones and any dark dancing partners. loved reading about St Petersburg and reminded me about my visit .Did you see anyn dancing bears,may they have been disccontinued in public places. Your evening tours wou;d have been great. Will hear which one you went to upon your return. Not so far away now. I am writing this on Wednes day afternoon prior to the first Mens get together at 7 St vincents. All goes well here except at Napier and Hastings where it is their turn for floods. St Petersburg will have finished by the time you get this blog and I hope it was one of the highlights of the tour. Best wishes to all and love to the special ones
Hi, Lynley. Your welcome postcard arrived yesterday, written from Skaggen. I have read John’s blog and the trip sounds great. Plenty of exercise options on board too, in case you have had a real mid-life change of heart! I had been regreting that I had not got an address to write to you while you are away then Margaret told me about contacting you through John’s blog so here I am. I guess you have heard about the violent storm last week; part of my front fence blew down. When I contacted my insurers they said the assessors were too busy to visit and I should fill out the claim form and send it in with some photos! A beautiful day today and I’ve been out getting things for my bathroom which is in the process of being rejuvenated. You will be home in time for the grand opening, all going well. Enjoy every last minute on board.
Love, Helen. PS Don’t delete any of the trillion photos until I have seen them!
здравствулте!!
You missed a cracker party for Gabby – she was in her element. She’s matured heaps over the last few weeks, you’ll see what we mean when you get back. Sounds like you’re having a great time over there – so many magnificent places! Dad I’m sure you’ve taken 100’s of stunning shots by now – looking forward to seeing them.
Cant wait to see you both. All is well here with us, the kids, luby, work, the chooks, your place and Janette says to tell you the magnolia out the front is flowering. Spectacular!
Ok better dash. Lots of Love, V.
Hi Robyn and John, Great to read the blog John.
Please say Hello to all the Pinkies and Greenies from last year’s Med.
Madness group. Special Hello to Judy and Edgar and Lynley.
Tell Lynley my Daughter Tracey produced LUKIS CHRISTOPHER. 8lb 2oz
today 19th July making me a Grandma at last!
Hello Betty. Think this is the last blog I will send you. It is7/30 pm on Thursday 19th and you will be in Stockholm which has its own beauty and a g good city to conclude your tour. I had a call from Liz this morning telling me that you have been unwell in the last day or so but are now better but not PATTY, so i send my sincere wishes that you both be in good health when you disembark on Friday. Betty I hope the weather is fine in London and am lookinf forward to your returm Much love Ormie
P.S Thanks to John Cooney for his magnificent blogs and marvellous photos recording in great detail.to us back in New zealand such a great tour and holiday
To Margaret & Brian Bates
Hi you to travellers. The tour sounds like it is going really well. Loads of fantastic news and pics on the blog! Bet you loved Catherines Palace … looked awesome!
We are looking forward to seeing you home soon. Trip to PN didn’t happen as the kids were unwell – all better now, phew.
Amanda is back at school. She confessed to having her name on the chances board at school … chasing boys and trying to kiss them … agh she is far too young for that!!!
Nathan is back at kindy and has come home covered in paint the last 2 days. They have been busy painting the outside shack. I inspected his work today, he was very proud.
Larissa is into everything! Today she went exploring at Northpoint … upstairs by herself! Thank goodness she didn’t try to come down by herself.
Marks work has been busy. He is sitting infront of the golf reading reports … im, lucky.
I am suppose to be folding washing but have managed to distract myself for at least an hour 🙂
Conservatory is great and should be lined next week, thank goodness as Larissa thinks the Pink batts taste good??
Love and speak soon.
Tans xxoo to you both
Hi! I’m the Community Manager of Ruba.com. We’re building a website to highlight some of the most interesting places travelers around the world have discovered. We’ve read hundreds of blogs about Russia, and we think that yours is awesome! We’d love to highlight excerpts from blogs like yours (assuming it’s OK with you of course) and to discuss other ways of tapping into your expertise if you are interested. I’m at [email protected].
Thanks! 🙂
HI ERIN:
Yes, go for it! More than happy for you to use excerpts from our blog and link to our website. Not sure about our ‘expertise’ – but by all means let’s keep talking.
Cheers – JOHN