Tsarskoye Selo, The Tsar's Village, is the stunning country development on land given to
Catherine the Great by her husband Peter the Great.
Luba, our fabulous Russian guide, on right above, managed to get us admission to
Catherine Palace through a side entrance thereby skipping the huge crowds.
Detail of the ceiling paintings and ornate gilding of the Grand Hall. This enormous room with
an area of 846 square meters is permeated with a sense of majesty.
Paintings of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra, the Romanovs, whom
along with their four children, were executed in 1918. This tragedy you will be familiar with if
you've ever been interested in the stories (and the movie) of the daughter Anastasia, Rasputin, and
the Russian Revolution.
Church of the Resurrection in the east wing of the palace.
Again, another remarkable St. Petersburg palace complex - these pics just showing a fraction
of the opulence, and give one more to ponder on regarding the vast difference between the
rulers and the people of this country when under the Tsars.
rulers and the people of this country when under the Tsars.
Next port of call, lovely Stockholm, Sweden, the 750 year old capital built on 14 islands and
connected by 57 bridges.
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