Russia – Oh, the Places We See . . . https://ohtheplaceswesee.com Never too old to travel! Thu, 19 Nov 2015 02:50:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i1.wp.com/ohtheplaceswesee.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cropped-IMG_8098-2.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Russia – Oh, the Places We See . . . https://ohtheplaceswesee.com 32 32 34574122 Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/05/19/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/ https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/05/19/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/#comments Tue, 20 May 2014 00:18:05 +0000 http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/?p=4466 Much of what we saw in Russia could be considered prime subject matter for this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art.  But one site memorable for its Rococo style and wealth of interior art on walls, floors, and ceilings is Catherine Palace located approximately 25 km south of St. Petersburg in Pushkin.  Originally conceived as a summer palace for Catherine I in 1717, it was renovated and remodeled in 1733 by Empress Elizabeth only to be demolished and reconstructed, opening in 1756 to the amazement and astonishment of the Russian people for its lavish construction, furnishings, and grounds.  Here are a few of the works of art at Catherine Palace (part of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Preserve) that made a lasting impression on us.

The signature blue and gold exterior of Catherine Palace.

The signature blue and gold exterior of Catherine Palace.

Exquisitely detailed ceiling panel, Catherine Palace.

Exquisitely detailed ceiling panel, Catherine Palace.

Delicate wall details, Catherine Palace, Russia

Delicate wall details, Catherine Palace, Russia

 

Interior furnishings and inlaid flooring, Catherine Palace, Russia

Interior furnishings and inlaid flooring, Catherine Palace, Russia

 

Elegant fireplace of Delft tiles, Catherine Palace, Russia

Elegant fireplace of Delft tiles, Catherine Palace, Russia

For more works of art, click here for Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art.

For the official website of the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Preserve, click here.

]]> https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/05/19/weekly-photo-challenge-work-of-art/feed/ 14 4466 From Russia with Love https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/02/14/from-russia-with-love/ https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/02/14/from-russia-with-love/#comments Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:00:14 +0000 http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/?p=3841 We seldom are in the right place at the right time, camera in hand, with a few minutes to savor the moment.  But it did happen . . . at least once.  During a day of sightseeing in Moscow, we were scheduled to meet our guide on the Luzhkov bridge where, we learned later, lovers hang padlocks on tree-shaped structures, symbolizing their eternal love for one another.

Bride and groom in Moscow celebrating Russian tradition of adding a love padlock to a wedding tree to symbolize their love.

Bride and groom in Moscow celebrating Russian tradition of adding a love padlock to a wedding tree to symbolize their love.

And just as we arrived, so did a bride and groom!  We witnessed the ceremony first-hand with the wedding couple “in the moment,” pledging their support of one another!

So, enjoy the time-old Russian tradition just as we did.

And enjoy your Happy Valentine’s Day today!

Rusha and Bert

]]> https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2014/02/14/from-russia-with-love/feed/ 12 3841 0 0 0 0 A Word a Week Challenge: Decadent https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/06/a-word-a-week-challenge-decadent/ https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/06/a-word-a-week-challenge-decadent/#comments Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:07:17 +0000 http://ohtheplaceswesee.com/?p=2704 When I saw that the topic for Sue Llewellyn’s A Word a Week Challenge was the word Decadent, I couldn’t help but take a break from posting about China to switch over to Russia.  One of the most decadent places we visited on our Viking River Cruise: Waterways of the Tsars from Moscow to St. Petersburg was the Catherine Palace at the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum-Preserve.

As we moved from room to room with a crowd of (just like us) tourists leaning, peering, and picture-snapping, we couldn’t help but marvel at the acquisitions and ornamentation that made each room more spectacular than the last.  With clean white walls and gold trim, the mirrored room held us captive.  But subsequent rooms showed off statuary, table settings, and period pieces the likes of which we had never seen before.  Here’s just a small sample.

The opulent exterior of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg.

The decadent exterior of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg.

Note the statues of Atlas holding up the world at each section of this exterior wall.

Note the statues of Atlas holding up the world at each section of this exterior wall.

One of the white-walled rooms adorned with gold. Fireplaces made with Delft tiles stood sentinel-like in corners and on prominent walls.

One of the white-walled rooms adorned with gold. Fireplaces made with Delft tiles stood sentinel-like in various rooms — sometimes in corners or centered like this one. Opulence was under foot, too, in the form of exquisite parquet floors.

Just one of many artifacts of opulent clothing on display.

Just one of many artifacts of decadent clothing on display.

Even the artwork featured people in exquisite attire.

IMG_5721

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