Summer has arrived at last, although we have had quite a bit of rain during this past week. We are beginning to adjust into some semblance of a schedule for the next few weeks before we return to the U.S. for July. Amanda is tutoring two of her students from last year as well as two new students who will be enrolled for the coming year. I have been working on Russian language and both of us have been working on logistical things (budgets, support, visas, etc.). It has been nice to enjoy a change of pace, although both of us miss being at school!
One nice benefit of the summer is that we have more time to visit places and spend time with friends here, and last week we were able to do both when we went to Pushkin, a suburb of St. Petersburg. Formerly known as Tsarskoe Selo (Tsar's Village), the town was renamed Pushkin in 1937 in honor of Alexander Pushkin (Russia's most beloved author) on the 100th anniversary of his death. Pushkin studied at a school in the area, so he did in fact have connections with the area. The area is home to the Catherine Palace, one of the most sumptuous of the old imperial residences, as well as extensive gardens and grounds. We picked what turned out to be a gorgeous day with clear skies and warm temperatures. Two friends and fellow teachers from school, Christina and Jarrod, also went with us.
To get there, we rode the metro to the end of the blue line and then boarded an elektrichka- a passenger/commuter train. It was only a few stops along the train to Pushkin and then about a 20 minute walk to reach the palace and the grounds.
A picture I took out of the window of the train looking down the tracks.
Inside the palace gardens. While this picture is of a part of the grounds with carefully hedged trees, in general the gardens are not as elaborately manicured as the gardens at Peterhof, having a more rugged feel and appearance to them. For any historical gardening buffs out there, Peterhof represents the French style of 18th century gardening, while the Catherine Palace exhibits the English style.
The grounds of the Catherine Palace has a large lake in it.
Stone bridge.
A Turkish bath that was built on one edge of the lake.
The Catherine Palace. The Palace itself is enormous and so long that we couldn't fit it into a single photo. Incidentally, the palace is named after Catherine I, the wife of Peter the Great, and not for Catherine the Great. It was greatly expanded under the reign of Elizabeth (1741-1762). We didn't go into the palace (it's somewhat expensive and the lines were all long. I did tour the palace when I was here in 2007 as a student, though), but just viewing it from the outside is extremely impressive. The palace is home to the reconstruction of the famous Amber Room.
The palace from farther back.
Some elaborate landscaping in front of the palace.
The chapel at one end of the palace.
Jarrod, me, and Christina peering through the gates at the side of the palace opposite of the gardens.
The other side of the palace.
A bridge in the gardens across from the palace.
A picture of the "small" hermitage on the palace grounds. It is still larger than most mansions, but in comparison to the main palace it would represent something of a secluded retreat. It even has a moat around it, although there is no water in it.
The old boathouse for the lake.
Thanks for reading!
-Matt
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