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After we showered and dressed, Pete and I went to the lobby to have a martini while we waited for Pat.  Do you know that Europeans (and I classify Russians in that group) do NOT know how to make a martini.  They always get the proportions of gin and dry vermouth all wrong.  They invariable make them 85% Martini Rossi Dry Vermouth and 15% Gin.  The correct way to make a martini is to put a cap full of dry vermouth in the glass, swish it around to wet the sides of the glass, and then throw it out.  Put the gin (lots of it) in a shaker with ice, shake, and pour in the glass.  Add a couple of olives, and voilà, you have the perfect martini.  We never got a perfect martini in Russia.

We had a pleasant dinner and then were taken to the Conservatorium for a performance of Swan Lake.
We were among the first to arrive, so the place looks empty, but before curtain call, the place was packed.

The performance was just under 3 hours.  We were instructed not to get up to leave when the performance ends, because it was not actually the end.  They would perform a new ending for us.  In this new ending the swan does not die.  All I can say is that I was ready to leave after the original ending.  It had been a long day, and I was ready for bed.  LOL

I took a couple of shots of the musicians in the orchestra pit as they tuned up their instruments.  When I was a kid, it was my childhood dream to become a harpist.

But I actually enjoy the violin now, more than the harp.

It was not permitted to take photos during the performance, so you are spared that tedium.  The next day, Saturday, August 23rd, began with a tour to Pushkin, including a visit to Catherine's Palace. 

On our way to Catherine's Palace we passed by this beautiful memorial.

I don't remember what the guide told us about this memorial, but the dates in the bottom line above are 1726 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31.  These just so happen to be the years between the War with Persia and the beginning of the Crimean Tatar Raids into Russia.  So maybe it's a memorial to six years of peace.  That's certainly something to memorialize, given that Russia seemed to be almost constantly at war with somebody throughout the 16 & 1700s.

Next we passed by this memorial to some war heroes.  It seemed there were as many memorials to war heroes as there were churches.  The building of either of them doesn't come cheap.  I don't think Russia is a poor nation by any stretch of the imagination.

This is the gate that allows entry to the HUGE grounds that surround Catherine's Palace.  Note the Egyptian design. As we got off the bus we were met by these gentlemen playing some lively music in welcome.

 

I had snuck inside the gate while our group waited, so I could get some photos early.

Our group (or at least the well behaved members) are patiently waiting on the other side of this gate until our guide says we can proceed

It is impossible to comprehend the scale and magnitude of Catherine's Palace.  So once we were on our way to the entrance, I took this shot to my left . . . . . . then I took this shot straight ahead . . .

. . . and finally this shot to the right, where we were headed with this horde of people to enter the palace.  Now I ask you, what in the name of heaven does ONE Empress and Autocrat of All the Russias need with a house this big?  And bear in mind, this was just her Summer Palace.  It's way too cold in St. Petersburg to winter here.  Mind you, it's not all that much warmer in Moscow, but those were her choices.

It was a long wait, and a lot of standing around, but in the end it was well worth it. Once inside the palace, the first thing we did was climb a set of stairs to the main floor.  There were some beautiful paintings on the walls, among other decorations.

These oriental objects we were told were priceless collectors pieces. On one side of the huge stairway leading to the main floor was this clock . . .

. . . and on the opposite wall was this instrument which I believe gave weather information, such as barometric pressure, etc.

Once we reach the head of the stairs, we entered the main ballroom.  GASP!!!

I've never seen so much gold leaf.

I think I'll stop here, because this chapter is getting rather long.  I'll continue with Catherine's Palace in Chapter 10.