June 15th Catherines Block

Overnight Den had come down with a nasty head cold, so he was feeling pretty awful.  He will stay home today.   So I met Sandy and Steve for brekkie and then I took some brekkie to Den and let the desk know that he would be staying on board and also they would take him lunch. 

We were separated off into our different buses as this morning was a free choice morning.  Den and I had chosen the Catherine Block (mansion) and the tour of the Peterhof Garden.  This garden was designed by Peter the Great – he loved gardens.  He had seen the gardens at the Palace of Versailles and wanted the gardens around the summer palace (Peterhof) to be similar but on a bigger better scale.  500 gardeners are employed to keep the grounds.  The lower garden is the ‘wild garden’ which just seemed that you could leave the weeds, just grow trees.  The garden around Catherine Block (her mansion before she was asked to be the Empress which was after she had led the plot to kill her husband Peter the 111).  We had to put on ‘bootees’ to walk into the house – we were able to take photos, but no flash.  The house was lovely furnished with many beautiful things.

We walked past many fountains, they only start them going at 11am.  Everything was there but for me no ‘wow’ anywhere.  We came to the front of the Summer Palace - the Peterhof – it was huge and impressive – the best thing there.  A canal had been made from the Gulf of Finland to the front of the Palace so that visiting VIP’s could come virtually up to the front steps – hundreds of them.

From here we walked to the dock and a hydrofoil took us back to St Petersburg.  It had started to rain just as we stepped onto the hydrofoil so we were luckier than the other groups who got quite wet.  It rained on and off for the rest of the afternoon.

Back onto our buses and taken to a beautiful restaurant for lunch.  The highlight for the men was that the men’s w.c. had a glass/mirror wall so they could see into the brewery next door – whatever.  The lunch was good.  We then reformed into different bus groups which was good as I was now with Steve and Sandy.  The afternoon was spent driving around St Petersburg and the guide saying look left look right as she pointed out this of special interest.  We got out of the bus a few times but as the rain persisted they were only quick dashes, click the photo and back to the dry bus.

We were taken to a souvenir shop – things were lovely but I decided to leave my shopping till a day when Den is there and us but together.

So back to the ship – Den had been to see the on board doctor (with an interpreter) so he was improving armed with lots of tablets.  I organised room service for his dinner, and met up with Steve and Sandy for ours. 

It was a big day.  St Petersburg has some impressive buildings but it would not rate anywhere near my favorite 10 cities.  I’m glad I’ve seen it but I just don’t like this city.  It seems very jumbled, disorganised without any rhythm or style.  When Peter the Great had the city designed he wanted canals everywhere like Venice – after his death many of these canals were turned back into road ways. 

Maybe when we see more tomorrow I might change my opinion.