Russia. The first day.

Tuesday 23^rd September and we were off to Russia.   

We boarded the St Peter line Princess Maria for our overnight crossing to St Petersburg. Helen organised this tour for us and it included the overnight ferry trip both ways, two nights in a good hotel in St Petersburg and virtually three days of organised sightseeing tours with our personal guide and chauffeur. We were picked up at the ferry when we arrived and dropped back there on departure.

On our first day, we visited the Catherine Palace which was the summer residence of the Tsars. Built during the 18th and 19th centuries this palace was plundered and all but demolished by the Germans during the 2nd World War. It is being faithfully re-created to its 19th century splendour. It is about 25 kilometres east of St Petersburg and was built to be out of the smog and dreariness of the big city in winter.

Peter admires samples of the cornice decorations. They are being reproduced in timber and then gilt.

The floors are parquetry of the highest standard (they are mostly original).

This hall has a painted canvas ceiling, most of which is original.

These enormous ornate tile fire places are an early form of space heating.

Various rooms were used for dining and their décor was complete, down to matching crockery, table decorations and napery.

The gardens of the palace were extensive and we had a cool but sunny afternoon to admire them.

We retired to our hotel, the Angleterre, and after settling in, wandered around our environment.

Directly opposite our hotel was St Isaacs Cathedral. This massive structure was built in 1818 by Tsar Alexander 1st on a site that had had four churches previously. It took 40 years to complete. The building is supported by 10,000 tree trunks set as piles into the marshy soil. It is currently being checked regularly as the weight of the granite structure is causing subsidence.

The cathedral’s main dome rises over 100 metres. It is plated in many tonnes of gold which was applied as a toxic mercury amalgam. This caused the deaths of some sixty workers.

The Cathedral is rarely used for religious purposes these days and stands as a museum to the Russian Orthodox Church.

After a nice meal at a local restaurant we returned to the hotel and relaxed. We have another large day tomorrow.

We will invite you to join us then so we will keep in touch.