St Petersburg - Peterhof
A recent (2012) trip to the Baltics included stops in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Germany, Helsinki, St. Petersburg, Estonia, and Stockholm.
Here's the Peterhof Gardens of St. Petersburg.
These gardens are Versailles-sized and styled, at least to my eye. They have a commanding view of the Baltic and are said to be a perfect example of 'Russian Triumphalism.' They are magnificent, but also are a cautionary tale. Given the decline of the Soviet Union and the profound changes afoot in modern Russia ... I wonder about the longevity and relevance of 'American Exceptionalism.' Maybe I think too much. Fun to visit.
On this day, we visited the Hermitage and the Peterhof gardens in that order. We transited from the Hermitage to Peterhof in 1.5 hours by bus, and from Peterhof back to the Hermitage in 20 minutes by hydrofoil. At that point, we spent another 1.5 hours by bus getting back to our ship. We should have done the whole transit by hydrofoil ... but then we would have missed the Peter the Great Memorial Gift Shop ... so nothing was lost, even though traffic collapsed in the process.
One profound difference between Russia and everywhere else I've visited - stores, shops and gift shops in Russia offer every potential buyer vodka when they enter - 'to smooth the shopping experience' I suppose. If we shopped often and early in the day, it made afternoon naps in traffic on the bus smoother.
Read MoreHere's the Peterhof Gardens of St. Petersburg.
These gardens are Versailles-sized and styled, at least to my eye. They have a commanding view of the Baltic and are said to be a perfect example of 'Russian Triumphalism.' They are magnificent, but also are a cautionary tale. Given the decline of the Soviet Union and the profound changes afoot in modern Russia ... I wonder about the longevity and relevance of 'American Exceptionalism.' Maybe I think too much. Fun to visit.
On this day, we visited the Hermitage and the Peterhof gardens in that order. We transited from the Hermitage to Peterhof in 1.5 hours by bus, and from Peterhof back to the Hermitage in 20 minutes by hydrofoil. At that point, we spent another 1.5 hours by bus getting back to our ship. We should have done the whole transit by hydrofoil ... but then we would have missed the Peter the Great Memorial Gift Shop ... so nothing was lost, even though traffic collapsed in the process.
One profound difference between Russia and everywhere else I've visited - stores, shops and gift shops in Russia offer every potential buyer vodka when they enter - 'to smooth the shopping experience' I suppose. If we shopped often and early in the day, it made afternoon naps in traffic on the bus smoother.
