Catherine Palace – Oh, the Places We See . . .

Weekly Photo Challenge: Work of Art

Oh, the Places We See — Tue, 20 May 2014 00:18:05 +0000

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.

Exquisitely detailed ceiling panel, Catherine Palace.

Delicate wall details, Catherine Palace, Russia

Interior furnishings and inlaid flooring, 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.

Filed under: Destination, Russia, Travel, Weekly Photo Challenge Tagged: Catherine Palace, postaday, Pushkin, Rococo style

Help us decide: Capture the Colour 2013 — Green

Oh, the Places We See — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:37:14 +0000

Yesterday, we had an overwhelming response to our “help us decide” blogs! Thanks! Many of you responded to our request to take a look at three posts offering three different photographs on the colors blue, yellow, and white. You voted, and we’re hoping to finalize our entry this week to submit to the Capture the Colour 2014 Photo Challenge after being nominated by Terri and James Vance of Gallivance. (Click here for their entry.)

If you’ve missed any of the photographs, the links to the previous posts are at the bottom. The photo challenge requires an entry for each of five colors: blue, yellow, white, green, and red.

Today’s photos are GREEN, and we again invite you to look at our pictures and vote for one by either commenting below or on Facebook. Thanks so much for your participation. And now, here are today’s photos for your review.

Today’s Vote: GREEN

1. Singapore Fish Spa

At the Singapore Night Safari, visitors can view nocturnal animals, ride a tram through the zoo, or soak their feet in a green tank while fairly aggressive little fish nibble off dead skin! Oooh, it tickles, some exclaimed, but the paying customers weren’t the only ones giggling and pointing. We were all turning green watching the catch of the day!

2. Greens for Goats

While boarding my bus in rural Nepal, I noticed something coming down the road. Hurriedly, I fumbled through my bag to grab my camera just in time to snap this lady and her strapped-on bundle of leaves and sticks. And then she was gone — moving nimbly up the mountainside to her home. It’s really quite common, the local interpreter told us. All the women here gather greenery for their goats.

3. A November Walk at Catherine Palace

With just a hint of fall turning green leaves ever so gently into gold, we followed other strolling visitors around the grounds of Catherine Palace in the town of Pushkin, Russia.

Remember, all you have to do to vote for your favorite GREEN photo is leave us a comment below.

And if you missed any of the other posts, we’d still love to have your feedback and opinions.

Help us decide: Capture the Colour — White: https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/24/help-us-decide-capture-the-colour-2013-white/

Help us decide: Capture the Colour — Yellow: https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/23/help-us-decide-capture-the-colour-2013-yellow/

Help us decide: Capture the Colour — Blue: https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2013/09/22/help-us-decide-capture-the-colour-2013-blue/

We appreciate your vote!

Rusha and Bert Sams

Filed under: Photography, Travel Tagged: Capture the Colour: 2013, Catherine Palace, fish spa, Gallivance, Nepal, Pushkin, Russia, Singapore Night Safari

A Word a Week Challenge: Decadent

Oh, the Places We See — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 14:07:17 +0000

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 decadent exterior of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg.

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 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 decadent clothing on display.

Even the artwork featured people in exquisite attire.

Filed under: A Word a Week Challenge, Museum, Russia, Travel Tagged: Atlas, Catherine Palace, opulent, Russia, St. Petersburg