Today an early start to visit the magnificent Peterhof Palace and Gardens. This was Peter the Great's "Versailles" by the sea. He constructed this palace on the Gulf of Finland as his main access to the sea. The palace is full of opulent mirrored rooms decorated with paintings and gilded wooden carvings. This was the most exquisite of all the palaces we visited. This one was completely destroyed by the Nazi's but has been restored to all it's grandeur. From the marble terrace we watch the Grand Cascade, made up of 3 waterfalls, 64 fountains and 37 statues. Water is conveyed over a distance of 12 miles without pumping stations. The gardens are just magnificent. We strolled down to the Bay and back. Wonderful!!
We returned to the ship for lunch and then off on our water tour of this magnificent city. The weather was threatening and we got a lightning & thunder show but now rain the whole time on the canal boat. We cruised through various canals and on the rivers that make up the "highways" of the city. The views of all the gorgeous buildings from the water was stunning. Eye candy everywhere. Going through the town, ducking under bridges, waving to people with the wind in our hair was great fun. As beautiful as this city is on land it is even more exquisite from the water. Words don't do St Petersburg justice.
We ended our tour with a visit inside the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior. The walls are covered in icon mosaics from floor to ceiling. Each one a beautiful work of art. Altogether it is overwhelming.
We disembarked just before dinner bidding this beautiful city goodbye.
We returned to the ship for lunch and then off on our water tour of this magnificent city. The weather was threatening and we got a lightning & thunder show but now rain the whole time on the canal boat. We cruised through various canals and on the rivers that make up the "highways" of the city. The views of all the gorgeous buildings from the water was stunning. Eye candy everywhere. Going through the town, ducking under bridges, waving to people with the wind in our hair was great fun. As beautiful as this city is on land it is even more exquisite from the water. Words don't do St Petersburg justice.
We ended our tour with a visit inside the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. The interior is as beautiful as the exterior. The walls are covered in icon mosaics from floor to ceiling. Each one a beautiful work of art. Altogether it is overwhelming.
We disembarked just before dinner bidding this beautiful city goodbye.
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