Peterhof

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We took a metro and then bus out into the country for the day to go to Peterhof, it was really cool just looking out the windows on the way there, the country is so different than being down in the heart of the city. Peterhof is amazing, definitely called the russian versailles for a reason, even in march when the fountains werent even on. The palace was enormous and spectacular, there are huge gardens leading up to the palace as well as a large fountain with a statue of neptune. Going around back there is a giant fountain down a hill leading out the gulf of Finland. I loved being in Russia in March, I cant really imagine it without the constant light snowfall and there were no crowds of tourists, anywhere! which was absolutely amazing we completely got to move at our own pace and immerse ourselves in the real culture, the only downfall was that at Peterhof all of the fountains were off for the winter, considering it was below freezing, and the vast majority of the outdoor statues were covered in wooden boxes. However, it was really nice to walk through the palace without being pushed through. The palace itself is extraordinary when you walk in the first thing you see is a staircase that is completely covered in gold. Then you make your way down the hall to the reception area where guests of the palace had to sign in. There are heaters in some of the rooms that take up a whole corner but is completely made of white with blue design tiles from the netherlands. The heaters are works of art on their own. Many of the rooms also have huge murals on the ceiling that are just magnificent, as well as all the paintings hanging up around the palace. There is one room that the walls are completely covered in paintings of peasant women and another where there are mirrors covering the walls and they look into each other so it appears that the room just goes on forever. An interesting thing about the palace is that there are rooms with chinese souvenirs in them, plates and such, and you arent allowed to stop in these rooms for fear of damage to the artifacts because they are so valued. Chinese objects were specifically viewed as valuable in the age of the tsars because they were odd so the tsars developed collections, you can also see this value in Elizabeth's room where the wallpaper has a chinese theme. There is also one last room in the palace that still has Peter the Greats decor in it after all of the tsars lived there after him, the cabinet, this room is completely covered in wood with carvings all over the walls. The palace overall was spectacular. It is also interesting to see because it is very rural right around the palace.

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Photos

The chapel
This chapel is attached to the palace, and there is a matching area (architecturally) on the opposite side of the building just to make it symmetrical

The Fountains in the Back
It was winter when we were there so the fountains werent running, and all of the statues were covered with these green wooden boxes to protect them (but just imagine if all those boxes were gold statues)

Fountain
Another view of the fountain where you can see the strait out to the gulf of Finland

Booties
In a couple of the museums you have to put on these little booties to protect the floors

Reception Room
Room where visitors of the palace had to check in

Peterhof
The room is wallpapered in paintings of peasant women

Front Lawn
Again all the statues are covered in wooden boxes

Church
Right across the street from the palace