Day 4  -  Tuesday August 29th

St. Petersburg/Yusupov Palace & Neva River Cruise/Petrodvorests/Home Hosted Dinner

Join our optional tour to the splendid Yusupov Palace. Yusupov Palace is owned today by one of the wealthiest families in Russia, and stands just beyond the “Bridge of Kisses.” Built by Vallin de la Mothe in 1760, the palace’s claim to fame is as the place where Prince Yusupov murdered Rasputin, the Mad Monk, in 1916. Here you’ll see where it all took place, as you browse rooms that have been restored to evoke the eerie atmosphere of the night of the murder. Another palace highlight is its magnificent private theater, one of the most beautiful of its kind in all of Europe.

Then, cruise on the Neva River, integral to the charm of the city. Less than 50 miles long, it flows from Lake Ladoga to the Gulf of Finland and connects by canals to the White Sea, the Volga, and the Caspian Sea. It spreads into a wide delta before joining the Baltic, and St. Petersburg is set here. When the city was founded there were no bridges across the river; ferries were used for transport from one bank to the other. It served, in essence, as the main street of the city, as Peter the Great intended. You’ll see some of the more than 500 picturesque bridges that connect the city’s banks and its 101 islands.

Your morning is at leisure.

After lunch at a local restaurant, set out for the Gulf of Finland to visit the magnificent summer palaces of Peter the Great at Petrodvorets. In 1714, Peter the Great asked for a “Versailles by the Sea” as a summer residence. King Louis XIV referred to Versailles as a “hunting lodge,” and the czar called his summer residence a “cottage,” which is actually the name of one of the smaller palaces that was the home of Czar Nicholas I. In reality, it was a grand palace, and the park surrounding it contains several other smaller palaces.

The original Grand Palace was virtually destroyed during World War II, but many of its treasures had been moved to safety before German occupation. Today, the palaces have been faithfully restored to their original splendor. You’ll see the palace’s remarkable Grand Cascade. This is an extraordinary fountain ensemble made up of three waterfalls, nearly 150 fountains shooting more than 2,000 jets of water, and a myriad of statues and sculptures. Its waterworks, after more than 250 years, continue to operate over 13 miles without pumps, relying on a system of gravity. Your excursion consists of a walking tour of the magnificent grounds, and a visit to a church at Petrodvorets.

We have a special dinner planned for this evening. You’ll visit a Russian family in their home for an evening of relaxed dining and conversation. This is a rare opportunity to spend some time with people who make their home here—and get their first-hand impressions of how Russian life has changed since the collapse of communism. Live entertainment is also part of an evening you’ll never forget.

_{Photos by Sue and Mati}
   
         
 

News from our Friends:

Jacques:

No pictures yet as internet access in St Pete is very difficult and

expensive.$16/hour No laptop access. Probably will not get a detailed

report to you until Wednesday in Helsinki Our schedule is very busy.

Yesterday the Hermitage and Catherine's Palace. Today a city tour and

Peterhof Gardens on Baltic Sea. And now a dinner at a Russian family's

home an hour drive away.

I'll ask Joyce about library book.

Mati